The United States and Russian Federation agree on the value of extending the cessation of hostilities that began on Monday despite some continuing violence, Kirby said, but added that Kerry “expressed concerns about the repeated and unacceptable delays of humanitarian aid” during his conversation with Lavrov.
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Convoys carrying humanitarian aid to Syria’s besieged city of Aleppo have been held up for yet another day, as fighting between Syrian forces and rebel fighters outside Damascus raised concerns about the longevity of a fragile ceasefire.
The UN Syria envoy urges the Damascus government to allow humanitarian aid deliveries indicating the regime has broken its pledges on the distribution of life-saving supplies.
The government had approved aid deliveries to those locations before the cessation of hostilities but had failed to issue a single letter of authorization, Egeland said.
“That is what makes a difference for the people, apart from seeing no more bombs or mortar shelling taking place”, said Mr de Mistura in Geneva.
The Kremlin said it hopes the United States would use its influence with the rebel groups to ensure they respect the ceasefire. That’s a fact. It is particularly regrettable because normally during these days we are losing time. “These are days which we should have used for convoys to move with the permits to go because there is no fighting”.
State department spokesman Mark Toner said on Wednesday that “we’ve seen violations on both sides” in Syria, although the ceasefire is broadly holding.
Outside Aleppo, Syrian forces that had been stationed along Castello road – a main artery into rebel-held neighborhoods of the city – were replaced by Russian troops, Rami Abdurrahman of the Observatory said.
But on Thursday evening, Russian Federation – co-author with the United States of the ceasefire agreement – said Syrian regime forces had finally begun pulling back from the road. The Observatory on Thursday reported the first three deaths since the cease-fire went into effect.
Moscow has also called for a UN Security Council meeting, with Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin saying on Thursday he hoped the council would adopt a resolution endorsing the ceasefire deal at next week’s high-level general assembly. It also said three shells were fired at the government-held southern village of Hadar.
“The challenge we continue to face – and this is the very sad reality – is ensuring all parties to the conflict, and those with influence over them, are in agreement”, he told AFP. Critics say the blocking of aid is merely an attempt by Syria’s government to gain an upper hand in that battle.
Konashenkov blamed the US for “its failure to honor its part of the commitments, especially on disengaging the moderate opposition”.
The ceasefire, which began on Monday, expires in 72 hours but both Russian Federation and the United States say they hope all sides can extend it beyond the first week.
The White House is blaming Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government for preventing humanitarian aid from entering high-need areas of Syria. It has been a major line of contention in the civil war.
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The Observatory also reported that strikes in Islamic State-held territory in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour had killed at least seven people, including a man and his daughters, and wounded 30 others.
