This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/04/syria-fragile-truce-transition-assad-european-leaders-vladimir-putin

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
European leaders urge Russia to maintain Syria ceasefire European leaders urge Russia to maintain Syria ceasefire
(about 2 hours later)
European leaders including David Cameron have urged Russia to maintain the ceasefire in Syria so peace talks which they hope will eventually lead to President Bashar al-Assad stepping down can go ahead as early as next week. European leaders including David Cameron have urged Russia to maintain the ceasefire in Syria so peace talks, which they hope will eventually lead to President Bashar al-Assad stepping down, can go ahead as early as next week.
The British prime minister, French president, François Hollande, German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi held a 50-minute call with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday morning.The British prime minister, French president, François Hollande, German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi held a 50-minute call with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday morning.
Cameron’s spokeswoman said he had stressed to Putin the importance of using the opportunity created by the ceasefire to press forward with a formal peace process. This could begin with talks in Geneva from the end of next week and end with “a transition away from Assad”.Cameron’s spokeswoman said he had stressed to Putin the importance of using the opportunity created by the ceasefire to press forward with a formal peace process. This could begin with talks in Geneva from the end of next week and end with “a transition away from Assad”.
“We welcome the fact that this fragile truce appears to be holding,” she said, adding that Downing Street hoped the ceasefire could last long enough for the process outlined in the Vienna peace agreement, struck late last year, to begin in earnest. “We welcome the fact that this fragile truce appears to be holding,” she said, adding that Downing Street hoped the ceasefire could last long enough for the process outlined in the Vienna peace agreement, struck late last year, to begin in earnest,” she said.
“Everybody on the call had a common interest in defeating Daesh in Syria and tackling the Islamist threat, and therefore it is in all our interest to support a peace process in the country that can lead to a stable, inclusive government that has the support of all Syrians,” she said. “Everybody on the call had a common interest in defeating Daesh [Islamic State] in Syria and tackling the Islamist threat, and therefore it is in all our interest to support a peace process in the country that can lead to a stable, inclusive government that has the support of all Syrians.”
The leaders also discussed the need to get humanitarian aid to besieged towns in Syria; and to improve conditions sufficiently to allow refugees who had fled the fighting to return home. The leaders also discussed the need to get humanitarian aid to besieged towns in Syria, and to improve conditions sufficiently to allow refugees who had fled the fighting to return home.
The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, is discussing the Syrian situation with his French counterpart in Paris on Friday. Speaking after the call, Hollande criticised Assad for scheduling elections in Syria next month, calling the move “provocative” and “unrealistic”.
Assad’s decree for parliamentary elections to be held on 13 April was issued shortly after Washington and Moscow announced a ceasefire plan for Syria a fortnight ago.
But Putin defended the elections, telling the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy during a conference call that the plan to hold April polls “does not interfere with steps to build the peace process”. He also said the polls were in line with the existing constitution of Syria.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Paris on Friday also expressed doubts about the possibility of the peace talks starting next week in Geneva as planned if the ceasefire does not take greater hold.
French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Friday said two conditions must be fulfilled before the talks start – access for all Syrians to humanitarian aid, and full respect of the ceasefire,”. The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, one of the most outspoken critics of Russia’s actions in Syria, said: “This cessation of hostilities is by no means perfect but it has reduced the level of violence, it has created an opportunity for some humanitarian access.
Britain has been frustrated; there has been no agreement on violations of the ceasefire can be monitored and handled, let alone any agreed penalties for repeated violations. There are also disputes about the territories and groups that are party to the ceasefire.”
Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany insisted: “Humanitarian aid shouldn’t be an exception, it should be normal, and from that point of view we are still far away from a situation that is satisfying.”
Renzi was a late addition to the phone call, initiated at the instigation of European leaders. Italy is likely to head up a force between 3,000 and 7,000 strong in Libya designed to secure oil installations and possibly force back Islamic State in the war-stricken country. Italian media have suggested a peacekeeping mission could be under way in 10 days and represent the largest Italian military intervention since the second world war.
It is thought British, French and Italian special forces are operating in the country preparing the ground for a European peacekeeping force. The force would not enter Libya, a historical Italian sphere of influence without the agreement of the Libyan government. Strenuous diplomatic efforts are underway to secure agreement on the formation of that government between two groups that are now arguing over the powers of the government and the distribution of ministries.
Russia has not stated if it opposes the idea of further western intervention in Libya, but strongly felt the previous intervention in 2011, designed to protect Benghazi, took place after Putin was misled about the purposes of a UN security council resolution designed to protect innocent lives in Benghazi, but not to be used as a cover to oust Muammar Gaddafi. European diplomats acknowledge Russian antipathy to further interventions in part stem from this Libyan episode.
Inside Syria, more ceasefire breaches were reported. Three airstrikes were alleged on the edges of the city of Douma and the town of Shafuniya just after midday on Friday. Civilian casualties were confirmed but the number is not yet known. Artillery shells were also heard on the edges of the city.
Many of the disputed breaches of the ceasefire turn on whether Russia was within its rights to bomb a position on the basis that al-Nusra Front forces were present. Al-Nusra are not party to the ceasefire since they are deemed to be linked to al-Qaida.