Ceasefire efforts at standstill for Syria
THE United States and Russia have failed to agree on how to revive a short-lived ceasefire in Syria during what the UN Syria mediator called a “long, painful, difficult and disappointing” meeting.
The International Syria Support Group met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in New York as the Syrian army announced the start of a new military offensive in the rebel-held east of the city of Aleppo.
“We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow on their ideas,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
“I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated.”
Russia and the United States agreed on September 9 about a deal aimed at putting Syria’s peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce, improved humanitarian aid access and the possibility of joint military targeting of banned Islamist groups.
But the truce effectively collapsed after one week when an aid convoy was bombed on Monday and some 20 people were killed.
“The good news is that Russia and the US agreed to work intensely on a possible restoration of it,” UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura said.
“It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting. The next few hours, days maximum, are crucial,” he said.
IT WAS A LONG, PAINFUL, DIFFICULT AND DISAPPOINTING MEETING. THE NEXT FEW HOURS, DAYS MAXIMUM, ARE CRUCIAL MEDIATOR STAFFAN DE MISTURA