Standing by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after a day of marathon talks in Geneva, Kerry said he believed the plan would lead to talks to "stop the conflict"."Today, the United States and Russia are announcing a plan which we hope will reduce violence, ease suffering and resume movement towards a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria," Kerry said
"The United States is going the extra mile here because we believe Russia and my colleague have the capability to press the Assad regime to stop this conflict and come to the table and make peace," he said.
Kerry said that the truce would come into force on Monday, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid and that if it lasted a week the United States would begin cooperation with Russian forces to target the Nusra Front and Islamic State groups.
Kerry's negotiating partner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, confirmed the agreement and said it could help expand the counterterrorism fight and aid deliveries to Syrian civilians. He said Syrian President Bashar Assad's government was prepared to comply with the arrangement.
Opening the much-awaited press conference after some 13 hours of talks, Kerry said that the two have agreed on a comprehensive approach to Syrian reconciliation. According to Kerry, the plan is to ensure that Syrian government forces will not carry out combat missions where the so-called moderate opposition is present.Speaking of Al-Nusra and its efforts to blend with moderate rebels, Kerry stressed “going on Al-Nusra is not a concession to anybody” but “is profoundly in the interests of the US.”Kerry also outlined an establishment of the Russian-US Joint Implementation Centre (JIG) that would serve the purpose of “delineation of territories controlled by Al-Nusra and opposition groups in the area of active hostilities."
Taking the floor, Russian FM conferred that Russia and US agreed to coordinate airstrikes in Syria, “provided there is a sustained period of reduced violence.”The first step towards the implementation of this clause will be a 48-ceasfire in Syria.
GENEVA—Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that they reached an agreement on a cease-fire deal in Syria that would ultimately include increased military cooperation if implemented.Mr. Kerry, speaking to reporters in Geneva after on and off talks with his Russian counterpart that began early on Friday and stretched past midnight on Saturday, said the U.S. and Russia are announcing a deal to reduce violence and eventually move toward a political transition.
He said the deal would include steps that would stop the Syrian regime from flying combat missions where opposition forces are operating. He said the U.S. and Russia are calling on the opposition and regime to recommit to the cease-fire on Sept. 12. First shorter cease-fires would take place and then after the cease-fire holds for 7 days, the U.S. and Russia would begin cooperating militarily.
Mr. Kerry said the accord would include sustained humanitarian access to all of the besieged and hard to reach areas, including Aleppo.
Mr. Lavrov said mistrust remained between the U.S. and Russia, but despite that, the two sides have developed a package of five documents that would allow for “efficient coordination in the struggle against terrorism” and expand humanitarian access, particularly in Aleppo.
The U.S. and Russia will create a joint intelligence-sharing center after the cease-fire has taken effect for seven continuous days, Mr. Lavrov said. He said they agreed on the areas where strikes against terrorist groups would take place and only the U.S. and Russian forces would strike there.
Mr. Lavrov said the Syrian government had been informed of the arrangements and is ready to enforce them.
The story is breaking and no doubt more details will be forthcomingFrom Earlier:
Ceasefire Aleppo?- SAA advances in Aleppo: Eid Al Adha /September 11th
Lebanese Politician: Erdogan Stayed Overnight at Russian Airbase in Syria
Yesterday: