Kerry, Lavrov agree to extend Syria ceasefire for additional 48 Hours

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed to extend the armistice in Syria for other 48 hours.

"As part of their conversation they discussed and agreed to extend the cessation for another 48 hours, with the goal being that this would last seven days and then we would move to the next step, which is the establishment of the JIC [Joint Implementation Center]," Department of State deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said at a press briefing on September 14.

Previously, Lavrov said that the efforts of Russia and the United States have not been in vain, adding that Moscow thanks the U.S. delegation.

"As you remember, a year ago our proposal to establish coordination was at first met rather chilly by our American colleagues who were ready only for procedures to allow avoiding unforeseen incidents," Lavrov reminded.

"However, as I have already said, in this February our presidents came out with an initiative to make additional efforts in order to, first of all, ensure the sustainable cessation of hostilities," he added.

The two ministers have already met in Geneva on August 26 and on in the Chinese Hangzhou at G20 summit September 4 and 5.

 The Chinese meetings were also followed by the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama.

Russia and the United States announced a new plan aimed at reducing violence in Syria, which includes a new nationwide ceasefire starting at 16:00 GMT on September 12.

The agreement also includes the creation of a demilitarized zone around Syria's Aleppo to deliver humanitarian aid to the city, as well as close coordination of Russian and U.S. airstrikes against Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, and ISIS groups operating in Syria.

Early reports of the renewed ceasefire in Syria indicate that there is some reduction in the level of violence in the country, Kerry said.

Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The “Islamic State” (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh), the YPG and the PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.