Russia does not know anything about "plan B" on Syria - source in Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Russia is not aware of any "plan B" on Syria, a source in the Foreign Ministry told TASS on Wednesday. "The Russian side is not aware of any ‘plan B’ that US is talking about. Intensive work on the statement was carried out, and it is necessary to hurl all effort into its practical implementation," the source said. "Practical implementation has already started. The US side should not give up ahead of time," he noted. Cessation of hostilities is due to come into force in Syria on February 27, a joint statement of the United States and Russia said on Monday. "The cessation of hostilities commence at 00:00 (Damascus time) on February 27, 2016," the joint statement said. "The United States of America and the Russian Federation, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and seeking to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis with full respect for the fundamental role of the United Nations, are fully determined to provide their strongest support to end the Syrian conflict and establish conditions for a successful Syrian-led political transition process, facilitated by the UN," it said. 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 Jebhat an-Nusra (both are banned in Russia) "or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement and said UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is ready to support implementation of the agreement at the site in Damascus and from Geneva. Read more