The Russian Federation and the
United States of America, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group
(ISSG), recognize the progress that has been made with respect to the cessation
of hostilities (CoH) in Syria, in accordance with our Joint Statement of
February 22, 2016, and in improving humanitarian access. We believe our
joint efforts have brought about a significant decrease in violence in the
areas of North Latakia and East Ghouta.
However, we also recognize
the difficulties faced by the CoH in several areas of the country, especially
in the recent period, as well as remaining problems in ensuring humanitarian
access to the besieged areas. As a result, we have decided to reconfirm our
commitment to the CoH in Syria and to intensify efforts to ensure its
nation-wide implementation. We also intend to enhance efforts to promote
humanitarian assistance to all people in need in accordance with United Nations
Security Council Resolution 2254.
Cessation of Hostilities
The co-chairs re-affirm our
commitment to the nationwide CoH that went into effect on February 27 across
Syria, and have decided to pursue the following measures to reinvigorate it:
1.
Recognizing challenges related to the CoH in certain
areas the co-chairs have re-emphasized the terms of the COH with field
commanders on all sides, especially in Aleppo, Eastern Ghouta and Latakia,
where we are determined to improve and sustain the CoH. We are
using our influence with the CoH parties on the ground to press them to abide
by the COH, refrain from disproportionate responses to provocations and
demonstrate restraint.
2.
We demand that parties cease any indiscriminate
attacks on civilians, including civilian infrastructure and medical facilities.
Where attacks leading to significant civilian casualties are reported to have
occurred, the co-chairs are committed to undertaking, within existing channels
of interaction in Geneva, the region, and capitals, a joint assessment and to
sharing the results with the members of the ISSG Ceasefire Task Force and,
through the UN Special Envoy for Syria, to the UN Security Council.
3.
The Russian Federation will work with the Syrian
authorities to minimize aviation operations over areas that are predominantly
inhabited by civilians or parties to the cessation.
4.
The co-chairs are urging all states to implement
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2253 (December 17, 2015) by
preventing any material or financial support to ISIL, the al Nusra Front, as
well as any other groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United
Nations Security Council, and to prevent attempts by such groups to cross the
Syrian border. To that end, the United States is committed to
intensifying its support and assistance to regional allies to help them
prevent the flow of fighters, weapons or financial support to terrorist
organizations across their borders.
5.
In order to maintain the effectiveness of the CoH, the
co-chairs are committed to undertaking efforts to develop a shared
understanding of the threat posed, and territory controlled, by ISIL and the
Nusra Front, and to consider ways to deal decisively against the threat posed
by ISIL and Nusra Front to Syria and international security.
Ensuring Humanitarian Access
Since January 2016 the UN, in
coordination with the ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent, have taken significant
steps to deliver assistance to 255,250 people in besieged areas and 472,975
people in hard-to-reach areas. However, many Syrians with urgent needs have yet
to be reached, especially in besieged communities. Life-saving
assistance, including certain medical supplies and personnel to ensure their
proper use, have been denied to populations in need. UN assessment teams and
humanitarian personnel have been barred from accessing certain besieged
areas.
In order to urgently deliver
humanitarian aid, the Russian Federation and the United States of America are
committed to pressing the parties to ensure continuous delivery of assistance
to Douma, East Harasta, Arbeen, Zamalka, Darayya, Zabadin, Fouah, Kafrayah,
Madaya, Zabadani, Mouadhimiyeh, Yarmouk, Ein Terma, Hammura, Jisrein, Saqba, and
Kafr Batna by land, and that it continues as long as humanitarian needs
persist. Deliveries by air will be continued to Deir ez Zor for
approximately 110,000 people in need. In addition, we reaffirm the need for
continuous deliveries to all locations considered by the UN to be
hard-to-reach, such as al Waer, Talbisseh, al Rastan, and Afrin. We also
recommend that the UN consider other locations that may meet the criteria for
priority designations, including Nubul, Zahra, and Hasakeh. Humanitarian access
including by medical personnel, to these most urgent areas must be a first step
toward full, sustained, and unimpeded access throughout the country. As called
for in UNSCR 2258, border crossings that are necessary for humanitarian relief
should remain open.
Humanitarian aid will be delivered
based on need, with the full package of food, medical and non-food items as
decided by the UN authorized for delivery by all sides. The provision of
mobile health services and evacuation of urgent medical cases should be
facilitated by all sides.
The co-chairs reaffirm that all
parties must allow immediate and sustained humanitarian access to reach all
people in need, throughout Syria, particularly in all besieged and
hard-to-reach areas, in accordance with UNSCR 2254. The co-chairs commit to immediately
work together with the Syrian parties to ensure no delay in the granting of
approval and completion of all pending UN requests for access in accordance
with the UN’s monthly plans. The co-chairs urge all parties to effectively
address the issue of detainees and hostages in accordance with UNSCR 2254, 2258
and other relevant resolutions. We also support the UN’s appeals for
continued funding of the Syria Response Plan, and encourage the international
community and UN to intensify efforts to meet the needs of internally displaced
persons across Syria.
Supporting a Political Settlement in
Syria
The Russian Federation and United
States are determined to redouble efforts to reach a political settlement of
the Syrian conflict consistent with UNSCR 2254 through the intra-Syrian
negotiations in Geneva under UN auspices. We concur that these talks
should be resumed on the basis of the Special Envoy’s mediator’s summary of
April 27, in particular the annex addressing the fundamental issues for a viable
transition, and the section on the commonalities on the political
transition. We urge all parties to the conflict, fellow ISSG members, and
other members of the international community to promote and support a political
settlement in Syria through the full implementation of UN Security Council
resolutions 2254 and 2268, the 2016 Munich and 2015 Vienna Statements of the
ISSG, and the 2012 Geneva Communique. In this regard, the co-chairs strongly
support efforts to end violence and bloodshed, counter the threat of terrorism,
and ensure the implementation of international humanitarian law.
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