UN diplomats consider resolution to back Syria ceasefire

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura waits prior the meeting with Syrian opposition members of the High Negotiations Committee, HCN, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, Feb. 1, 2016. AP FILE PHOTO

UNITED NATIONS, United States—UN Security Council diplomats are discussing a draft resolution that would endorse the deal on cessation of hostilities in Syria, diplomats said Wednesday.

Russia and the United States, which negotiated the ceasefire deal, are working on a text that could be adopted on Friday, a council diplomat said.

READ: US, Russia announce Syria ceasefire from Saturday

“I think there will be a resolution that we will agree then to welcome the cessation of hostilities negotiated by the US and Russia,” he said.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura will report to the council on Friday, a few hours before the ceasefire is due to go into effect.

Russia and the United States have set a deadline of midnight Damascus time (2200 GMT) Friday for “the cessation of hostilities” between President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and non-jihadist rebel forces.

The deal excludes the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, which control large swaths of territory in Syria.

If the ceasefire takes holds, De Mistura hopes to convene a new round of peace talks next week, possibly around March 4, said a council diplomat.

The truce will also help UN agencies scale up deliveries of humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach areas across Syria’s many frontlines.

READ: UN aid convoys head to 2 Syrian besieged towns