UN Security Council, Arab League call for implementation of Syria truce
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The UN Security Council reiterated its calls for a ceasefire to take hold in Syria after holding a closed door meeting on Wednesday to discuss the failure of parties to implement the truce adopted by the body on February 24.
“The cessation of hostilities was discussed. The Security Council reiterated its call for implementation of resolution 2401,” Netherlands UN Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, said after the meeting. Netherlands holds the presidency position for March.
Co-sponsor of the resolution, Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, lamented the lack of commitment to the ceasefire by Damascus.
"So far we see minimal signs only from the Syrian authorities to implement the resolution and we are very, very disappointed about that," he told reporters.
The UN’s Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura briefed the Security Council, AFP reported citing a diplomatic source. De Mistura offered to help broker a deal with Russia to allow rebel forces to evacuate the district, a proposal that reportedly received strong support in the council.
The Arab League joined the chorus of calls for the full implementation of the 30-day humanitarian ceasefire.
"This is the only way to save civilians trapped for years in Eastern Ghouta and other Syrian cities through allowing humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the areas which face daily bombardment," Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League said after a meeting of the organization on Wednesday.
The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution after intense negotiations with Damascus-ally Russia. The ceasefire was called for largely because of universal outcry over large numbers of civilian casualties in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta district.
The Syrian army has taken control of half of Eastern Ghouta since launching its intense bombing campaign on February 18, killing at least 850 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Eastern Ghouta in a phone call on Tuesday.
“The cessation of hostilities was discussed. The Security Council reiterated its call for implementation of resolution 2401,” Netherlands UN Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, said after the meeting. Netherlands holds the presidency position for March.
Co-sponsor of the resolution, Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, lamented the lack of commitment to the ceasefire by Damascus.
"So far we see minimal signs only from the Syrian authorities to implement the resolution and we are very, very disappointed about that," he told reporters.
The UN’s Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura briefed the Security Council, AFP reported citing a diplomatic source. De Mistura offered to help broker a deal with Russia to allow rebel forces to evacuate the district, a proposal that reportedly received strong support in the council.
The Arab League joined the chorus of calls for the full implementation of the 30-day humanitarian ceasefire.
"This is the only way to save civilians trapped for years in Eastern Ghouta and other Syrian cities through allowing humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the areas which face daily bombardment," Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League said after a meeting of the organization on Wednesday.
The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution after intense negotiations with Damascus-ally Russia. The ceasefire was called for largely because of universal outcry over large numbers of civilian casualties in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta district.
The Syrian army has taken control of half of Eastern Ghouta since launching its intense bombing campaign on February 18, killing at least 850 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the situation in Eastern Ghouta in a phone call on Tuesday.