MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Reconciliation agreements were signed during the day with representatives of 14 Syrian settlements, including ten in the province of Latakia, one - in the province of Homs, two - in the province of Hama, and one - in the province of al-Suwayda, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties said in its regular daily news bulletin posted on the Russian defense ministry’s website on Wednesday.
"The number of settlements joining the reconciliation process has reached 685," the center said. "Talks on joining the regime of cessation of hostilities were continued with field commanders of armed opposition groups in the settlement of Muaddamiet al-Shih in the province of Damascus and commanders of armed opposition groups in the provinces of Homs, Aleppo and al-Quneitra. The number illegal armed groups that declared their commitment to the ceasefire terms remains unchanged - 69."
According to the Russian reconciliation center, a total of 78 ceasefire violations by illegal armed groups were reported during the day. The biggest number of violations - 47 - were reported from the province of Aleppo where militants used mortars, self-made multiple missile launcher systems and firearms to shell the settlements of Shufra, Shkeif, Muheim Handrat, and Aleppo’s districts of Ramusi, 1070, the Castello trade center, the al-Assad military academy and a cement plant.
In the province of Damascus, terrorists shelled from mortars and firearms the settlements of Hawsh-Nasri, Jobar, Hawsh al-Fara, Harasta, Douma, Arbil, Kabun, a medical service school in the settlement of Harasta and the Ibn Sina hospital. In the province of Latakia, mortar fire was conducted at the settlements of Ain al-Qantara, Shir-Adaba and positions of government forces near Abu Ali mount, as follows from the bulletin.
"No air strikes were delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and informed the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers about their locations," the Russian center said.
Apart from that, according to the Russian center, efforts are continued to relieve the humanitarian situation. Thus, a total of 1.5 tonnes of food products - sugar, flour, rice, dry-pack soups, canned meat and fish - were delivered to refugees from Aleppo’s 1070 district temporarily accommodated in a former hospital near the Sheikhan ring area. Hot meals and living essentials distribution outlets are still open for civilians leaving Aleppo’s neighborhoods controlled by illegal armed groups.
The Russian Defense Ministry declared the establishment of the reconciliation center on February 23. It is headquartered at the Hmeimim air base, Latakia province. The center was set up in line with agreements reached by Russia and the United States to facilitate the negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition and to organize humanitarian deliveries.