Progress towards Peace? Assad accepts Syria’s Muslim holiday truce

Assad accepts Syria’s Muslim holiday truce, envoy tells UN
24 October, 2012 – By Louis Charbonneau, Michelle Nichols – Reuters

UNITED NATIONS: The U.N.-Arab League mediator for the Syrian conflict told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accepted a ceasefire for the Muslim holiday starting Friday, though a final announcement was expected to come later.

“President accepted, statement to be issued tomorrow,” a diplomat present at a closed-door briefing said mediator Lakhdar Brahimi told the 15-nation council via video link. He was speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Brahimi was expanding on remarks he made earlier on Wednesday to reporters in Cairo. After Brahimi spoke to the press in Egypt, the Syrian government appeared to contradict him, saying that its military command was still studying a proposal for a ceasefire with rebels on the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Asked if he could confirm Assad’s personal support for the holiday truce, Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari said to reporters: “Good to see you.”

On the way into the council meeting, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow hoped Brahimi’s plan for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of would be successful.

“We support it very strongly,” Churkin said. “We worked very hard in support of Mr. Brahimi in making sure there is a chance that might happen.”

Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong echoed Churkin’s remarks.

“We support a truce and we support Mr. Brahimi’s effort,” Li told reporters. “I think it’s important for all parties to understand the importance of peace and stability.”

“If there is 1 percent chance (of a ceasefire) then I think we should make 100 percent effort to make that happen,” he said.
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