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Conflict in Syria

HNC may lose control over armed units in Syria if situation deteriorates — adviser

The HNC adviser noted that among the Committee’s members are people who represent armed groups but at the same time support the importance of resolving the conflict by peaceful means

Syria peace talks at the United Nations in Geneva Denis Balibouse/Pool Photo via AP

Syria peace talks at the United Nations in Geneva

© Denis Balibouse/Pool Photo via AP

GENEVA, April 21. /TASS/. Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) maintains control over armed units "on the ground" but may lose it if the situation inside the country deteriorates, HNC adviser Yahya al-Aridi told TASS on Thursday.

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"HNC controls those people but this control cannot be everlasting," al-Aridi said. "HNC can tell them - be patient, we adhere to ceasefire regime, we adhere to international relations and peace process. However, they are also starving people, who have no necessities and are subjected to bombardments. How can they be controlled in a situation like this?" he added.

The HNC adviser noted that among the Committee’s members are people who represent armed groups but at the same time support the importance of resolving the conflict by peaceful means. "They should not be lost. However, in order to prevent this, they need to maintain trust ‘on the ground’. For this, the situation should improve, and we need to help them in that," al-Aridi said.

On April 18 HNC decided to suspend its participation in inter-Syrian talks in Geneva due to deteriorating situation with ensuring cessation of hostilities in Syria and lack of progress on humanitarian issues.

The ceasefire regime took effect in Syria on February 27. Shortly before, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution supporting cessation of hostilities. The document drafted by Russia and the United States was backed by all 15 Security Council member states.

The ceasefire regime does not cover the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations as well as other groups designated as terrorist by the Security Council.

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Syrian conflict

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The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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