Syria ceasefire to be implemented parallel to political process

The cessation of hostilities in Syria is not limited by any particular timeframe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

According to Sputnik news agency, Lavrov stressed that even though it was not the same as a full-scale ceasefire, it is definitely the first step towards its implementation.

Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on February 22. Last week, it was endorsed by the UN Security Council and came into force on Saturday.

"It is just the first step towards a full-scale ceasefire. There is a legal difference between a cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire. The latter is a more stable and serious mode," Lavrov explained.

The Russian foreign minister also stressed that there are no preconditions for the cessation of hostilities in Syria and it must be implemented parallel to humanitarian aid deliveries and the political process.

"There are no links between the cessation of hostilities and the start of talks [in Geneva]. All of these processes must develop parallel to each other," Lavrov said. 

Source: MENA