Syria deal holding despite fighting in some cities: UN

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

Syria's cessation of hostilities has been holding for six days, although fighting has continued in several areas, UN Syria Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday.

"It has been now 6 days of cessation of hostilities... The level of violence in the country has been greatly reduced. Ask the Syrian people. In general, the cessation has been holding," de Mistura told a press conference at the UN office in Geneva.

"There are still number of places where fighting has continued, including parts of Hama, Homs, Latakia, and Damascus," he added.

"The situation is fragile, (and) success is not guaranteed, but progress has been visible”.

Car show hampers Syria talks

Complaining of a car show in Geneva monopolizing available hotel rooms, de Mistura said they will have proximity talks with the delegates who can arrive in Geneva on March 9.

According to officials, Syria talks are expected to begin on Monday, March 14.

Following the International Syria Support Group's Humanitarian Access Task Force meeting, another ISSG task force meeting will be held in Geneva today, de Mistura said.

Mistura's special advisor Jan Egeland said that over the last three weeks 236 trucks have served 150,000 people in besieged areas of Syria, and many of these people received several convoys.

Stating that UN has been waiting for a green light from the Syrian regime to deliver humanitarian aid to all besieged towns in Syria, Egeland said that so far they have delivered humanitarian aid to 6 besieged towns and that 4 more will soon follow.

The UN also needs Damasus’ go-ahead to deliver medical supplies, he added.