West Must Support Truce in Aleppo to 'Demonstrate Adherence to Peace'

UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura's proposal for a 48-hour truce in Aleppo is a chance for the West to demonstrate its commitment to support the humanitarian ceasefire and to persuade the armed opposition to compromise for achieving enduring peace in Syria, Tarek Ahmad, a member of the Hmeymim group of internal Syrian opposition, told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry welcomed a proposal brought forward by de Mistura for a 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo, and expressed readiness to implement next week the first 48-hour humanitarian pause to supply the city with aid as a "pilot project."

"Russia is calling for joint work with the UN and the United States. This proposal by de Mistura is a chance for the western countries to show their readiness to work together, to convince the forces under their control to compromise for aid deliveries and the enduring peace," Ahmad said.

The lawmaker stressed that he was not counting on the United States to fully support the proposal and to respond to the Russian call for action. "We always see that Americans are trying to impose preconditions in exchange for a support of the Russian initiatives. The policy of Russia is to look for a compromise and common areas where it can reach an agreement with the United States," Ahmad said.

Russia and the United States brokered a ceasefire in Syria on February 27. The number of settlements that have joined the ceasefire regime in Syria has since increased to 429. However, the warring parties have reported multiple violations of the cessation of hostilities.