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UN expected to announce date of new Syria peace talks UN: Syria talks to resume March 7 if truce ‘largely holds’
(about 3 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations special envoy for Syria was expected Friday to announce a date for the resumption of peace talks, as a United States-Russia negotiated “cessation of hostilities” was set to take effect at midnight local time. UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations special envoy for Syria said Friday he plans to resume peace talks on March 7 if a cessation of hostilities negotiated by the United States and Russia that began at midnight local time “largely holds.”
Staffan de Mistura will brief the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors via videoconference from Geneva and then speak to reporters. Staffan de Mistura briefed the U.N. Security Council via videoconference from Geneva following a meeting of envoys from the 17-member International Syria Support Group, which is supposed to monitor implementation of the agreement.
If the cessation of hostilities holds, it would mark the first time international negotiations have managed a pause in Syria’s five-year civil war. “This will remain a complicated, painstaking process,” he told the council. But he added that “nothing is impossible, especially at this moment.”
The Security Council was expected to vote Friday on a draft resolution endorsing the cease-fire. De Mistura, however, warned he had “no doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process.”
According to a draft obtained by The Associated Press, the resolution would urge the U.N. secretary-general to resume the peace talks “as soon as possible.” Shortly after de Mistura’s briefing, the 15-member council voted unanimously to approve a resolution endorsing the cease-fire agreement. The cease-fire began shortly afterward.
The draft also expresses support for an international working group whose task is to “accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid,” with the goal of sustained and unimpeded aid access to all parts of Syria. If the cessation of hostilities holds, it would mark the first time international negotiations have managed to achieve a pause in Syria’s civil war, which shortly will enter its sixth year.
Even as council members spoke in support of the agreement, strains showed. Russia warned against “the harmful practice of providing external support to armed groups.”
And British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said “Russia must turn words into actions” and use its influence on its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad: “If they don’t, we will falter again.”
According to a draft obtained by The Associated Press, the resolution urges the U.N. secretary-general to resume the peace talks “as soon as possible.”
It also expresses support for an international working group whose task is to “accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid,” with the goal of sustained and unimpeded aid access to all parts of Syria.
That includes areas where hundreds of thousands of people find themselves besieged, most of them by Syrian government forces or the Islamic State group.That includes areas where hundreds of thousands of people find themselves besieged, most of them by Syrian government forces or the Islamic State group.
For the cease-fire to succeed, multiple armed factions will have to adhere to its terms.For the cease-fire to succeed, multiple armed factions will have to adhere to its terms.
The Syrian government and a leading opposition bloc have agreed to the cessation of hostilities, but the accord excludes U.N.-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Nusra Front, which hold swaths of Syrian territory.The Syrian government and a leading opposition bloc have agreed to the cessation of hostilities, but the accord excludes U.N.-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Nusra Front, which hold swaths of Syrian territory.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the cessation of hostilities will not in itself ensure that a political solution in Syria is reached. But she said the “vast majority” of the opposition is ready to cooperate with the cease-fire.
“Let us be real. It’s going to be extremely challenging, especially at the outset, to make this work,” Power said.
In Washington, U.S. State Department Mark Toner expressed confidence in the cessation of hostilities, pointing out that the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee and Syrian Democratic Forces, and the vast majority of its armed groups, have accepted the terms.In Washington, U.S. State Department Mark Toner expressed confidence in the cessation of hostilities, pointing out that the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee and Syrian Democratic Forces, and the vast majority of its armed groups, have accepted the terms.
“The Russians have committed themselves to not carrying out strikes against groups that we consider the moderate opposition,” Toner told reporters. But Toner called it “put up or shut up” time for Russia to prove its seriousness about ending the fighting and starting a political transition.
But he called it “put up or shut up” time for Russia to prove its seriousness about ending the fighting and starting a political transition. Russia sounded a positive note at the Security Council meeting.
Warplanes on Friday continued to launch airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the suburbs of the Syrian capital and near the northern city of Aleppo. A spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general acknowledged “an increase of military activity across the board in Syria” in the hours leading up to the cease-fire. “We now have a real chance to end the violence,” said Russian deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov, who acknowledged that the process will be “difficult and complex.”
But warplanes on Friday continued to launch airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the suburbs of the Syrian capital and near the northern city of Aleppo. A spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general acknowledged “an increase of military activity across the board in Syria” in the hours leading up to the cease-fire.
“It’s tragic but unfortunately not surprising,” Stephane Dujarric said, adding: “The only thing that is required is for people to take their fingers off the trigger.”“It’s tragic but unfortunately not surprising,” Stephane Dujarric said, adding: “The only thing that is required is for people to take their fingers off the trigger.”
Ukraine’s Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warned that some of Russia’s actions in Syria mirrored its behavior in his country, but he said his country supported the new resolution because of the urgent nature of the crisis.
“This time, there will be no room for political maneuvers or excuses,” Yelchenko said.
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Keaten reported from Geneva. Associated Press writers Bradley Klapper in Washington and Cara Anna in New York contributed.Keaten reported from Geneva. Associated Press writers Bradley Klapper in Washington and Cara Anna in New York contributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.