Germany, France urge Russia to pressure Syria for 'immediate' ceasefire

The leaders of Germany and France have urged Russia to exert "maximum pressure" on Syria for an "immediate" implementation of a UN ceasefire in the war-ravaged country, Berlin said.


German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin "that it is crucial that the (UN) resolution be implemented quickly and comprehensively," Ms Merkel's office said in a statement.

The UN Security Council demanded a 30-day truce across Syria yesterday, as one of the deadliest air assaults of the seven-year war pounded the rebel [sic] enclave of Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin "that it is crucial that the (UN) resolution be implemented quickly and comprehensively," Ms Merkel's office said in a statement.

"They call on Russia in this context to exercise maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to achieve an immediate suspension of air raids and fighting."
 (RTE)
 25/2/18
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***Following the approval of a recent UNSC resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said those parts of Damascus suburbs that are under terrorists’ control will not be included in the ceasefire, adding that the cleansing operation will continue in those areas.

Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia also said that the resolution does not preclude Syrian forces from targeting Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) and al-Nusra Takfiri militants operating in some parts of the Arab country.

The ceasefire does not preclude forces inside Syria from targeting “Islamic State (Daesh), Al Nusrah and other extremist organizations,” Nebenzia said on Saturday after the ceasefire was voted for.
 (Tasnim)
 25/2/18