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        Diplomats Make Push for Syria Cease-fire as Deadline Approaches

   by VOA News

   U.N. diplomats are considering a Security Council resolution endorsing
   a U.S. and Russian backed cease-fire in Syria, which U.S. Secretary of
   State John Kerry says is "the one way that we can end this war."

   Syria's warring parties have until midday Friday to say if they are
   participating in the cessation of hostilities that is due to begin 12
   hours later.

   "The alternative is that the war gets worse, that Syria might be
   totally destroyed, not able to be put back together," Kerry said
   Wednesday.

   U.S. and Russian officials are holding further discussions Thursday on
   implementing the cease-fire, and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister
   Mikhail Bogdanov reiterated that Russia is not discussing any
   alternatives to the plan.

   The Syrian government has said it will take part, but will continue
   attacking Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked terrorists, which are
   excluded from the cease-fire.

   ''

   The main opposition High Committee for Negotiations (HNC) gave a
   reserved endorsement for the cease-fire on Wednesday, saying it will
   participate for two weeks to determine the commitment of the other
   side.

   The HNC has also said its participation is contingent on the delivery
   of humanitarian aid and the end of sieges and airstrikes against
   civilians.

   The U.S. envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said in a statement the HNC's
   recommendations are being carefully considered.  He also expressed hope
   that the maximum number of armed factions will sign on to the
   cease-fire.

   Obama cautious

   President Barack Obama struck a cautious tone after meeting Wednesday
   with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

   "We are very cautious about raising expectations on this; the situation
   on the ground is difficult," the president said.

   But the American leader added, "If over the next several weeks we can
   see some lessening of the violence that's been wracking that country,
   then that provides us a basis to build a longer term cease-fire." He
   said the warring parties fighting for control of Syria might eventually
   be able to "move forward on the political transition that ultimately is
   going to be necessary to bring an end to the civil war in Syria."

   In Moscow, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke
   Wednesday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Saudi Arabia's King
   Salman about the impending truce.  Its statement said Putin and
   Rouhani, who both support the Assad regime in Damascus, "stressed the
   importance of a further cooperation" between the two countries in
   fighting terrorist groups in Syria.

   ''

   Russia said that King Salman, who is supporting rebel groups fighting
   Assad, "welcomed" the truce and voiced a "willingness to work with
   Russia" to implement it.

   Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Syrian
   Kurdish militia forces it considers terrorists should also be kept out
   of the scope of the cease-fire, just like Islamic State and al-Nusra
   Front.

   Erdogan called the truce to halt five years of fighting that has left
   470,000 people dead "positive in principle;" but, he said the notion
   that the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia should be given support in Syria
   because it is fighting Islamic State is a "great lie."

   The YPG is a branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK,
   which has waged a three-decade war against Ankara for control of
   Kurdish southeastern Turkey.  The PKK is recognized as a terror group
   by the United States and the European Union.
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   ire-as-deadline-approaches/3207339.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/diplomats-make-push-for-syria-cease-fire-as-deadline-approaches/3207339.html