Moscow receives applications from Syrian opposition on readiness for ceasefire - diplomat

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Moscow receives confirmations from representatives of the Syrian opposition about their readiness for the ceasefire which arrive via the Defense Ministry channels, Russian president's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS on Wednesday. "I think they (application papers) are coming," said Bogdanov, the deputy foreign minister. "But you should better ask the Defense Ministry," he said. "They are awaiting bids from the warring sides in Syria about their readiness for the ceasefire." Russia-U.S. deal on Syria On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama adopted a joint statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on February 27, obliging both sides to influence different political forces in the country to achieve a ceasefire. The statement points out that the cessation of hostilities is to be applied to all parties to the Syrian conflict but for Daesh (the Arabic acronym for Islamic State) and Jabhat al-Nusra (both are banned in Russia) "or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council." The strikes on these groups will be continued. On Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the creation of a coordination center at the Russian Hmeimim air base with the aim to reconcile the warring sides within Syria. The center was set up in line with agreements reached by Russia and the United States to facilitate the negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition and to organize humanitarian deliveries. Read more