International News

UNITED NATIONS, (APP): The UN Security Council has unanimously
adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in war-torn Syria starting Saturday.
In doing so, the 15-member Council demanded that the agreement take
effect as agreed.
On Monday, the United States and Russia, the co-chairs of the
International Syria Support Group (ISSG), announced a plan for a ceasefire between the government forces and armed opposition groups in Syria. The deal excludes the Islamic State (Da’esh) and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups.
The Syrian government has confirmed its readiness to halt its military
actions in accordance with the Russia-US agreement. Some opposition forces have been sceptical about the ceasefire, but in general have agreed to adhere to it.
Under the terms of a resolution adopted Thursday evening, the Security
Council demanded the “full and immediate” implementation of resolution 2254 (2015) to facilitate a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition in order to end the conflict in the country, stressing once again that the nation’s people “will decide the future of Syria”.
Resolution 2254, unanimously adopted in December, gave the UN an
enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, endorsing a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections.
In Thursday’s text, the Council also demanded that all parties involved
in the cessation of hostilities fulfil their commitments, and urged all Member States, especially ISSG members the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries, including the United States and Russia, who have been seeking a path forward for several months to use their influence with the parties to ensure fulfilment of those commitments and support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire.
The Council recognized the efforts on the part of the Russian Federation
and the United States to reach an understanding on the terms of the cessation of hostilities, and acknowledged and welcomed that the forces of the Government of Syria and the Syrian armed opposition groups have accepted and committed to abide by the agreement’s terms.
The Council also reiterated its call to the parties to immediately allow
humanitarian agencies rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria by most direct routes, and to immediately comply with their obligations under international law.
Expressing support for the ISSG initiative to accelerate the urgent
delivery of humanitarian aid, with the view towards full, sustained and unimpeded access throughout the country, the Council also reaffirmed its support for a Syrian-led political process facilitated by the UN.
In particular, the Council requested that formal negotiations between
representatives of the Syrian Government and the opposition, under the auspices of the UN, be resumed as soon as possible.
In the resolution, the Council also welcomed the cessation of
hostilities as a step towards a lasting ceasefire, reaffirming the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process, and that both initiatives should move ahead expeditiously as expressed in resolution 2254.