John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, announced on Friday, September 9, at the end of negotiations with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva, an agreement on a plan for a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war and the initiation of a peace process in this war-torn country. According to the French news agency, Mr. Kerry, speaking at a press conference alongside Sergey Lavrov, stated: 'I believe this plan will lead to negotiations to stop the fighting.' John Kerry emphasized: 'Today, the United States and Russia presented a plan that we hope will lead to a reduction in violence and alleviate the suffering of the people, and will result in the resumption of peace talks and a political transition in Syria.' The US Secretary of State stressed that the United States is taking further steps here, as Russia has the capability to compel Bashar al-Assad to end the conflict and come to the negotiating table for peace. Kerry clarified that under this new plan, the ceasefire will begin on the evening of Monday, September 12, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, and if this ceasefire is observed by all parties to the conflict for one week, then the US will begin joint cooperation with Russia to target the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS). According to Reuters, American and Russian experts have been negotiating this plan for a comprehensive ceasefire in Syria since June. In February of this year, Russia and the US agreed on a ceasefire plan in Syria. However, following clashes between Syrian government forces and opposition, particularly the escalation of conflicts in Aleppo, this ceasefire was violated. International organizations state that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war and millions have been displaced. In this context, a senior military commander of 'Fateh al-Sham' was killed in an airstrike in Syria. Toner: The US and Russia have not yet reached an agreement on Syria. US-Russia negotiations on Syria 'ended without reaching an agreement.' Obama: We have deep disagreements with Russia over Syria, but negotiations continue moment by moment.
Kerry: Agreement Between the US and Russia on Ceasefire Plan in Syria
John Kerry announced a US-Russia agreement on a ceasefire plan in Syria, aiming to reduce violence and initiate peace talks. The ceasefire is set to begin on September 12, with conditions for further cooperation against extremist groups. This development is significant as it reflects ongoing international efforts to stabilize Syria amidst a prolonged conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
John Kerry and Sergey Lavrov announced a US-Russia agreement for a ceasefire in Syria, set to begin on September 12, aimed at reducing violence and restarting peace talks. The plan includes conditions for US-Russia cooperation against extremist groups if the ceasefire holds for a week.
- The ceasefire is scheduled to start on September 12, coinciding with Eid al-Adha.
- Previous ceasefire agreements have failed due to ongoing violence and clashes.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Syrian civil war has been ongoing since 2011, resulting in a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. International efforts to broker peace have faced numerous challenges.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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