PEACE in our time or a cynical diplomatic fudge? The best that can be said of the provisional agreement on a “cessation of hostilities” between at least some of the warring parties in Syria, hammered out (again) on February 22nd between John Kerry, America’s secretary of state, and Sergei Lavrov, his Russian opposite number, is that it appears to have slightly more solid foundations than a similar attempt earlier this month.
The agreement, which is due to come into force on February 27th, was endorsed by Vladimir Putin in a rare television address after he conferred by telephone with Barack Obama. As The Economist went to press, details of how it would be implemented were still being worked through. It looks likely that at least one of the requirements of the UN peace plan outlined by the UN Security Council late last year may be fulfilled: the lifting of sieges of rebel-held towns by government forces and the delivery of humanitarian aid to their starving populations. Some aid convoys began to roll from Damascus last week and more will follow. Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s president, has also promised to hold (meaningless)...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/1oK1DD6
EmoticonEmoticon