Kerry: 'Provisional Agreement'...
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On Friday, Russia had asked for any plans of a ground invasion into Syria to be scrapped, in a draft resolution to the U.N. council. While Turkey and Saudi Arabia have said they could commit ground forces earlier in February, both nations have backtracked on their remarks since then.
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John Kerry Reaches Provisional Agreement With Russia's Lavrov on Syria Ceasefire
International Business Times - 1 hour ago
Kerry lavrov (2) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had reached a provisional ceasefire deal for Syria. Pictured: Lavrov (left) speaks with Kerry (right) during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 15, 2015.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly said Sunday he had reached a provisional agreement on terms of a cessation of hostilities in Syria with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Kerry made the announcement at a news conference in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
"We have reached a provisional agreement in principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities that could begin in the coming days," Kerry said, adding that he had had repeated conversations with Lavrov, including the one on Sunday to arrive at a temporary truce in Syria.
Kerry, however, did not reveal any details of the deal and said he didn't expect fighting to cease immediately.
"I do not believe that in the next few days, during which time we try to bring this into effect, there is somehow going to be a tipping point with respect to what is happening on the ground. ... The opposition has made clear their determination to fight back," Kerry said, according to Reuters.
The announcement followed softening in the stance of Syrian President Bashar Assad Saturday, who said he was ready for a ceasefire on the condition that "terrorists" did not use a lull in fighting to their advantage.
The main U.S.-backed Syrian opposition group also said Saturday it was ready "in principle" to implement a temporary ceasefire in Syria if given guarantees that Assad’s allies, including Russia would stop attacks, sieges were lifted and humanitarian aid deliveries were allowed in the war-ravaged country.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed Lavrov and Kerry had spoken about conditions for a ceasefire in Syria on the telephone on Sunday, according to Reuters.
"The modalities for a cessation of hostilities are now being completed. In fact, we are closer to a ceasefire today than we have been," Kerry reportedly said, adding that the two sides are "filling out the details."
Indicating that the negotiations were yet to iron out all the differences, Kerry said that he anticipated that U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin would be speaking in the coming days in order to complete the provisional agreement in principle.
On Friday, Russia had asked for any plans of a ground invasion into Syria to be scrapped, in a draft resolution to the U.N. council. While Turkey and Saudi Arabia have said they could commit ground forces earlier in February, both nations have backtracked on their remarks since then.
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World | Sun Feb 21, 2016 5:40am EST
MOSCOW
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gestures as he meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting on Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland January, 20, 2016.
Reuters/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool
MOSCOW Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke about conditions for a ceasefire in Syria on the telephone on Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Russian Foreign Ministry added that discussions were on ceasefire conditions, which would exclude operations against organizations "recognized as terrorist by UN Security Council".
(Reporting by Katya Golubkova; editing by Susan Thomas)
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© Sputnik/ Dmitriy Vinogradov
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry in a telephone conversation continued to discuss the modalities for the cessation of hostilities in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday.
"The foreign ministers as co-chairs of the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) and in accordance with its February 12 decisions continued coordination of modalities and conditions for the cessation of hostilities in Syria except operations against organizations recognized as terrorist by the UN Security Council," the statement issued by the ministry following the Sunday phone conversation of the two top diplomats reads.
At the same time, Secretary of State John Kerry noted that he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have reached a provisional agreement on terms of a cessation of hostilities in Syria, indicating there are still unresolved issues.
"We have reached a provisional agreement in principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities that could begin in the coming days," Kerry said as quoted by Reuters.
Kerry added there was hope that Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin would be speaking in the coming days in order to complete the provisional agreement in principle, and that the two sides are "still filling out the details".
John Kerry Reaches Provisional Agreement With Russia's Lavrov on Syria Ceasefire
International Business Times - 1 hour ago
Kerry lavrov (2) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had reached a provisional ceasefire deal for Syria. Pictured: Lavrov (left) speaks with Kerry (right) during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 15, 2015.
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