Fighting must be halted across Syria and humanitarian aid reach those in need “from the first day” of the ceasefire, it said.
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The United States and Russian Federation hailed a breakthrough deal on Saturday to put Syria’s peace process back on track, including a nationwide ceasefire.
The plan will begin with a “cessation of hostilities” from sunset on Monday, the BBC reports.
“Today the United States and Russian Federation are announcing a plan which we hope will reduce violence, ease suffering and resume movement toward a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria”, Kerry said.
If the truce holds for a week, the United States and Russian Federation will start working together to develop military strikes against Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, and the Islamic State group, Kerry said.
State news agency SANA said the Syrian government accepts the agreement, adding that hostilities will stop in the northern city of Aleppo, the country’s largest, for “humanitarian reasons”.
In addition, both parties agreed steps to react to the violation of the agreements, especially the regime of the end of hostilities, ratified again this time as a valid mechanism, in force, and violated repeatedly since last February.
If a cessation of hostilities holds for one week, the USA and Russian Federation could start joint airstrikes against Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the Arab country.
Russian Federation is a main backer of Assad’s government while the USA has been supporting rebel groups trying to remove him from power.
Seven days after the start of the cessation of hostilities, Russian Federation and the U.S. will establish a “joint implementation centre” to fight IS and another main jihadist group, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
United States special envoy to the Syrian crisis Michael Ratney appealed to rebel groups to commit to the deal, saying it was the “best way” to save lives.
“We and the United States take obligation to do our best to engage and make the stakeholders comply with the arrangements in our document, and the Syrians have been informed and agree”, he said. Kerry and Lavrov named as the main target of the proposed joint strikes the former al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra – which has now rebranded itself as the Front for the Conquest of Syria, or Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.
The final hours of the talks dragged out as Kerry contacted US President Barack Obama’s office to get approval for the plan, but the top diplomat said both governments stand behind it. “We will be watching closely the implementation of this understanding in the days ahead”.
The one thing that’s changed this time around is Turkey’s increased military presence on the ground in Syria, which is bad news for both the Syrian regime and certain opposition groups.
While awaiting word, a lighthearted moment occurred when the Russian minister orchestrated the delivery of pizzas and two bottles of Russian vodka to the press, saying, “The pizza was from the U.S. delegation, the vodka was from the Russian delegation”. Syrian forces will end combat missions in specified opposition-held areas.
Indeed, the US began bombing Syria in September 2014 explicitly due to the presence of Nusra, which it claimed was planning attacks against the West. The often brutal fighting has displaced millions, many of whom have fled to Europe in an unprecedented refugee crisis.
“But let us also hope this agreement shows what is possible if people negotiate in good will towards a political settlement that will isolate Jihadist extremists, and bring a lasting peace not just to the city of Aleppo but to all the people of Syria”.
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The Syrian opposition yesterday cautiously welcomed the ceasefire deal agreed by Moscow and Washington that could also see the first joint military campaign by the two powers against militants.
