×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

UN council welcomes Syria ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey

by Reuters
Saturday, 31 December 2016 20:36 GMT

Children carry balloons before releasing them towards damascus city, on the first day of the truce, marking the end of the year and also to send a message that civil activity will continue in the rebel held Jobar, a suburb of Damascus, Syria December 30, 2016. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh

Image Caption and Rights Information

The ceasefire - the third truce this year - seeks to end nearly six years of war in Syria.

(Adds background)

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war brokered by Russia and Turkey.

Russia and Turkey announced the ceasefire this week, the third truce this year seeking to end the nearly six years of war in Syria.

The resolution also welcomes plans for talks to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan between the Syrian government and the opposition, ahead of the resumption of U.N.-brokered talks in Geneva in February.

In remarks after the vote, several delegates on the Security Council welcomed the ceasefire but said the agreement contained gray areas and that its implementation was fragile.

The original Russian draft would have had the council endorse the deal, but after last minute negotiations the language was changed to welcome and support the deal to appease some council members and win unanimous support, diplomats said.

(Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati in Washington, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York; Editing by W Simon)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->