US-Russian ceasefire

DAMASCUS. — The ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Russia went into effect yesterday in southern Syria, local media reported.

The ceasefire covers the provinces of Sweida, Daraa, and Qunaitera, according to the media.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States and Russia had reached ceasefire agreement to quell fighting in southwest Syria.

He said the agreement, if it holds, may be a blueprint for other parts of the country. “This area in the south is our first show of success. We hope we can replicate that elsewhere,” he said.

The ceasefire is part of the de-escalation zones’ deal, which went into force last May in four Syrian areas including the southern part of Syria, where battles flared up again, prompting the United States and Russia to agree to a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy said on Saturday that the cease-fire agreement reached Friday between the United States and Russia is a “step in the right direction.”

In a press briefing held in Damascus, Ramzy said the US-Russian agreement for creating the de-escalation zones in southwest Syria is also an important development, adding that the UN support the efforts to de-escalate violence in Syria.

“The agreement to create de-escalation zones in southern Syria…is an important development. The UN always aims to de-escalate tension and this is a step in the right direction. We hope that the other areas that have been discussed to be included in the de-escalation zones deal to reach similar agreement soon and that will support the political process,” he said. — Xinhua.