Kerry announces US-Russia deal on Syrian ceasefire

[pnwmom]

Source: CNN

(CNN)The US and Russia announced a plan Friday to bring about a ceasefire in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry said.

"Today we are announcing an arrangement that we think has the capability of sticking but it's dependent on people's choices," Kerry said in Geneva.

Appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kerry said the pact calls for the Syrian government and the opposition to respect a nationwide ceasefire scheduled to take effect at sundown on Monday.

He added that the accord will also prevent the air forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from flying combat missions anywhere that the opposition is present, calling this provision the "bedrock of the agreement," labeling Assad's air force the "main driver of civilian casualties" and migrant flows.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/09/politics/syria-ceasefire-kerry-lavrov/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Has Trump added his 2 cents yet?

[karynnj]

2. Not to be rude, but who cares. This is not politics it is a chance to end the violence

Obama is President and he was willing to use his political capital to back Secretary Kerry in getting a diplomatic solution - when the career professionals in the State Department, many in Obama's NSC and the Pentagon preferred a more military based response.

This is something where the US did not hold the high cards. This was a tough lift internationally to get this agreement. Fighting both the US neocons and others who thought there was a military solution here and the strong powers against getting a diplomatic solution shows how dedicated Secretary Kerry was and that when it came down to it, Obama gave his blessing.

As to Trump, he would be a far better man if he had 1% of the decency and integrity that either Kerry or Obama have.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I agree that Kerry/Obama deserves the credit but

Trumps reaction is certainly important. My guess is he will have no comment.

[karynnj]

5. As will be Hillary's far more informed opinion

My reaction was that it was pretty sad that the first and then only response to what - if things hold - will be a turning point in the suffering there. If so, it is good for that reason and because it makes fighting ISIS easier as well. With luck, the facts on the ground by the time of the election may be far different than now.

There are reports already that the number of ISIS foreign fighter recruits is very very significantly down and they have lost considerable land. There is no way everything will be good before the end of Obama's term, but I hope that they are at least going in the right direction and the path forward is less murky.

[duncang]

6. I'm sure he will have comments

And it will be him taking credit for it. Saying putin knew he was going to be elected and wanted to settle it quick before he got in and made puting pay for the wall around Aleppo.

[FSogol]

3. Nice work, Sec Kerry and Pres Obama. n/t

[Thinkingabout]

7. This would be so good to halt this tragedy. Obama spent time with Putin

Recently, may be this will be good on all levels.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Good and important news

There's no guarantee it will hold, of course, but it's an attempt to get the worst people - ISIS and al Nusra (now doing business as "Jabhat Fateh al-Sham&quot - as the common enemy, while the rest of the parties involved can step back and maybe see if there are more permanent agreements to be made.

"The plan is more prescriptive and far-reaching than any proposal to date and, if implemented by all sides, could allow political negotiations to take place on Syria's future," Mr Kerry said.

The United Nations envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, welcomed the agreement and said the UN would exert all efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37324872

And why Johnson should have recognised 'Aleppo':

Mr de Mistura warned earlier on Friday that food and water shortages made the situation in Aleppo even more serious than previously, and that fuel supplies could run out within days.

UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien told the BBC conditions in Aleppo had become appalling: "Eastern Aleppo is at the apex of horror, where any one of us, if we were there, would find life barely possible, let alone tolerable."

[MowCowWhoHow III]

9. Intense airstrikes Saturday on and around the city of Aleppo have killed at least 45 people.

BREAKING: Syrian opposition activists say that intense airstrikes Saturday on and around the city of Aleppo have killed at least 45 people.
https://twitter.com/AP/status/774695266045792256