Federation Council speaker is optimistic about first results of ceasefire in Syria
MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax) - The first results of the ceasefire in Syria make one cautiously optimistic, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"The first ceasefire results make one cautiously optimistic. More than 100 various armed organizations that fought have stated their concept to ceasefire," Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday.
"This process is going," she said.
The speaker reiterated that there is no alternative to ceasefire in Syria.
"What do all these talks about Plan B, Plan G, etc., mean? That someone is interested in further confrontation, in bloodshed, in further civil war, the killings of children and women, etc. There can be no other plans except for ceasefire and truce," Matviyenko said.
Matviyenko said there is some resistance and unwillingness to restore peace in Syria.
"In a situation the country is in, it's understandable. But I believe we should make tougher demands on those who do not promote a ceasefire," Matviyenko said.
Matviyenko said Russia will do everything to fulfill the agreements on ceasefire in Syria. "Russia will clearly fulfill its obligations and impact those organizations, opposition and other structures which are influenced by Russia," she said.
"We are really hoping that our partners, the U.S., who have influence on a whole range of groups that are active in Syria, other states will also actively promote the establishment of a ceasefire," she said.
The ceasefire in Syria took effect at 00:00 Damascus time (01:00 a.m. Moscow time) on February 27. The ceasefire does not apply to the terrorist organizations Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (a Syrian division of al Qaeda), which are banned in Russia and in some other countries.