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Assad: Syria Ready to Help Implement Cease-fire Plan

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FILE - Syrian volunteers and relatives wave the national flag and portraits of President Bashar al-Assad as they celebrate at the end of paramilitary training conducted by the Syrian army in al-Qtaifeh, near Damascus, Feb. 22, 2016. Assad and Putin spoke by telephone Wednesday and highlighted the importance of continuing to fight terror groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra.

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VOA News

February 24, 2016 5:50 AM

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Syria is ready to help implement a cease-fire planned to begin on Saturday.

The two leaders spoke by telephone Wednesday and highlighted the importance of continuing to fight terror groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra.  The militants are not part of a U.S.-Russian proposal for a cessation of hostilities.  Other groups are supposed to say by Friday whether they are taking part.

The main opposition High Negotiations Committee has said its participation is contingent on the delivery of humanitarian aid and the end of sieges and airstrikes against civilians.

FILE - Syria Democratic Forces walk in an area they have taken control of from Islamic State fighters in Hasaka countryside, Syria, Feb. 19, 2016. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the cease-fire the best way to try to end the five-year war in Syria.

Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the cease-fire is the government's main focus in Syria and that it is premature to talk about any backup plan.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the cease-fire the best way to try to end the five-year war in Syria.  But he told lawmakers at a Senate hearing Tuesday there is no guarantee that a halt in fighting would lead to positive steps in the larger goal of bringing a political resolution to the crisis.

Kerry also responded to questions about what happens if the cease-fire is violated by saying there will not be impunity.

"There is significant discussion taking place now about Plan B if we don't succeed at the table," said Kerry.