The tense truce: how to observe the cease-fire in Syria – RBC

Residents of Damascus on the streets on the first day of truce

The announced February 27 ceasefire in Syria is generally respected, according to official side of the ceasefire agreement. However, there are violations in which the parties accused and Turkey, and Russia, together with the authorities in Syria

Stress beginning

The truce formally It entered into force on February 27 at midnight. “The fighting stopped in 34 towns,” – he said at a press briefing on Saturday, head of the Center for Reconciliation of the warring sides, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko. Military operations, including flights of Russian aircraft over the entire territory of the country, according to Kuralenko, were discontinued in the cities of Homs, Hama, Damascus.

The truce will not affect terrorist groups fighting in Syria, Saturday’s briefing in Moscow, recalled the provisions of the cease-fire representative of the General Staff of the Armed forces Sergei Rudskoy. “The fight against gangs, recognized by the UN as terrorist, will be continued”, – promised the representative of the military establishment

The deputy head of the delegation of the Syrian opposition at the talks in Geneva, George Sabra said that in the first hours were violations by the Syrian army. the provinces of Daraa and Damascus. This information was confirmed by the opposition leaders on the spot. According to Reuters the leader of the rebel group “Fursaev al-Haq” (part of the “Syrian Free Army”) Fares Bayyush, government forces continue to inflict artillery strikes on the territory of the opposition in the provinces of Hama and Damascus.

In the evening Sunday began to appear new reports of violations. Eyewitnesses filmed the bombardment six settlements in the north of the Aleppo . According to the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdurahman , determine which side of the aircraft belong to, it is impossible. Organizations know that certain attack the city, including the Daret Azza , are controlled by the group “Front en – Nusra » (banned in Russia) and other terrorist groups. “We’re not sure whether it is violation of the peace agreements, so it is not clear whether the attack the city in the agreement are included”, – he said.

According to Russian data, Aleppo is currently controlled by terrorist groups.

The last few weeks of Aleppo fierce fighting between the army of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the opposition, with the participation of units of the terrorist organization “Front anti- Nusra ». Government troops backed by the Russian Aviation and Lebanese troops « Hezbollah » managed to cut the city from posts territories rebels in the north. Pending the conclusion of agreements Republican Army moved to the Turkish border. “ Hezbollah » at the same time trying to close the corridor connecting the eastern regions of the Aleppo with the rest of the territories under the control “of the Syrian Free Army».

Violators

in all, according to Russian data, per day revealed nine violations of the cessation of hostilities, Kuralenko told “Interfax” on Sunday night. Also, he said, there have been a violation of “group by Turkey of militants numbering up to 100 people and the seizure of the group in collaboration with other gangs northern city of Al-Tall El Abyada” Syria border. Actions gangs, he said, supported by artillery fire from Turkish territory.

According Kuralenko, the Russian side has already appealed to the US located in Amman Centre for Reconciliation for an explanation. The bombing of the territory controlled by the Kurds, was confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Dzhubeyr at Sunday’s press conference in Riyadh accused the air force of Russia and Syria violation of ceasefire

The truce -. a very important step in the Syrian settlement, but the agreement, which led to his imprisonment, has left a number of issues unresolved, draws attention Vasily Kuznetsov, head of the Centre for Arab and Islamic studies at the Institute of Oriental studies. Exclusion from the Truce of terrorist organizations is absolutely logical, but creates opportunities for provocations from various angles, so the need for all parties to show responsibility and tranquility. However, given the information war waged by the parties to the conflict, accusations of provocations continue, sure Kuznetsov.

to the world of Path

The way will be respected a truce depends on the continuation of political negotiations. Before the beginning of the armistice the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution in which its provisions have been recorded. They repeated the principles set out in the joint statement, Russia and the United States. “I’m sure we will see many attempts aimed at is to negate our efforts,” – said after the vote, the UN secretary general’s special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (quoted by “Interfax”). However, according to the diplomat estimated that this truce -. The best of what we could have hoped for all five years of conflict

The US and Russia have repeatedly said that the truce should contribute to the political process. De Mistura said Friday that if the ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid it intends to resume March 7 mezhsiriyskie negotiations.

Such negotiations with representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition have been scheduled for February in Geneva. Delegations arrived, however, the formal work has not begun, and 3 February de Mistura has suspended them. Renew their planned February 25, but the start was delayed.

On Thursday, a representative of the higher committee for the Riyadh talks Naasan Agha told “Interfax” the readiness of the Syrian opposition to the resumption of negotiations. “Resumption Pereg OVOR will be possible only if the commitment will be clearly performed how the regime and foreign powers that support it” – said the permanent representative of France to the United Nations François Delattre

De Mistura is ready to negotiate, but. necessary for them to begin the readiness of the parties to negotiate, and it will appear only if the “on the ground” come and de-escalation of the conflict arises from the parties understand that they can not radically change the situation in their favor, Vasily Kuznetsov believes.