MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Five violations of the ceasefire regime have been reported in the past day in Syria’s provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said on its regular bulletin posted on the official website of the Russian defense ministry on Sunday.
"Over the past day, five episodes of violation of the regime of cessation of hostilities were reported. Two violations were registered in the province of Aleppo, two - in the province of Latakia, and one - in the province of Hama," the document says.
Thus, gunmen for the Liva El Sultan Murat group opened fire at Kurdish forces in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maksoud from the vicinity of al-Ashrafia and Al Haidaria.
"Mortar and machinegun fire was opened at the settlements of Akch-Bayer and Beit Smaira in the province of Latakia from the settlement of Shamruran controlled by the Free Syrian Army. The settlement of Jurin in the province of Hama came under shelling," the document says.
According to the bulletin, the number of armed groups and settlements signatories to the ceasefire agreement has not been changed in the past day. As of today, 43 groups have agreed to accept ceasefire terms. Agreements of ceasefire have been reached with heads of 51 settlements. In the past day, ceasefire terms were negotiated with the commanders of two armed groups in the Damascus province and administration officials from four settlements in the provinces of Damascus and Quneitra.
"No air strikes have been delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and referred their coordinates to the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers," the bulletin says.
Russia, US specialists worried over ceasefire violations
Specialists from the Russian and U.S. ceasefire centers in Syria are worried over ceasefire violations in the provinces of Latakia and Hama, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said on its regular bulletin posted on the official website of the Russian defense ministry.
"Telephone talks have been held between the command of the Russian center for reconciliation (at the Khmeimim base) and the U.S. reconciliation center in Amman. The sides expressed concern over ceasefire violation in the provinces of Latakia and Hama," the Russian center said.
A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.
An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.
Russian military deliver 5.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Homs
Russia’s center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria has delivered 5.5 tons of humanitarian cargoes to two settlements in the province of Homs, the center said in a regular bulletin posted on the website of the Russian defense ministry on Sunday.
"Over the past day, the Russian reconciliation center delivered 5.5 tons of humanitarian aid to the settlement of Kafer-Nan and Tasnin in the province of Homs. The humanitarian cargoes that included food products and bottled water were distributed among the local residents," the center said.
According to the Russian reconciliation center, in the past days government humanitarian convoys have delivered more than 60 tons of humanitarian cargoes to seven settlements in the provinces of Damascus, Daraa and Hama. "The humanitarian cargoes included food products, medicines, tents, electricity generators, lap blankets, hygiene items and liquefied gas cylinders for cooking," the bulletin says.
On Saturday, the chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties, Sergei Kuralenko, said the Russian side delivered more than two tons of humanitarian aid to the settlement of Harasta in the province of Damascus.
Russian and U.S. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama adopted a statement on February 22 on a ceasefire in Syria from February 27.
Both countries undertook to influence the Syrian political forces close to them to achieve truce in Syria. The truce regime is not applicable to the groupings recognized by the United Nations as terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (both outlawed in Russia).
In the follow-up of the joint statement by the Russian and U.S. leaders, a special Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides was set up at Russia’s Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s Latakia.
The Center aims to assist armed groups in Syria in concluding ceasefire agreements, maintain the truce regime, control its observance and organize the delivery of humanitarian cargoes to civilians.