Syrian regime: ‘Real chance’ for political settlement

Syria’s foreign minister said today there was a “real chance” to reach a political settlement of the Syrian conflict, after Damascus’ ally Russia announced a ceasefire deal that was to take effect at midnight.

Walid Muallem also said Syria would attend planned peace talks in Kazakhstan “with an open mind”.

“Everything is open for discussion, with the exception of national sovereignty, and the people’s right to choose its leadership,” he said in a live interview on state television.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire between Syrian opposition groups and the government starting at midnight (22:00 GMT), and said the parties were also prepared to start peace talks.

No date has been announced for the talks in Astana, the Kazakh capital.

The Syrian army said fighting would halt nationwide, but that Daesh, former Al-Qaeda militants and groups linked to them were excluded from the deal. Opposition groups said only Daesh was excluded.

“It is the duty of the factions who have signed it to distance themselves from, and declare that they are not linked to, the Nusra Front or Daesh,” Muallem said.

The close geographical proximity of opposition factions to former Al-Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front has complicated previous ceasefire efforts.

One opposition group, the Islamic Ahrar Al-Sham Movement, said it had reservations about an agreement and it was not among the groups that had signed it.

https://twitter.com/ahrar_alsham_en/status/814539900620046336

“#AhrarAlSham has reservations about the proposed agreement &related negotiation process,therefore didn’t sign.We ‘ll show reservations later,” the group wrote on Twitter.