Assad Says Ceasefire ‘Glimmer of Hope’, Offers Amnesty to Disarmed Insurgents

Local Editor

As he stressed that the Syrian government is committed to the current ceasefire in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad said that the other side in the conflict is violating the agreement sponsored by the United Nations.

In an interview with German television ARD, President Assad said the terrorists breached the cessation of hostilities agreement from the very first hour, while the Syrian Army has refrained from retaliating, in order to give the chance for the agreement to survive. President Assad in an interview with German TV ARD

President Assad in an interview with German TV ARD

However, Assad warned: “That’s what we can do, but at the end everything has a limit. It depends on the other side.”

Describing the truce as a “glimmer of hope”, the president also offered an amnesty to opposition militants if they agree to disarm.

“Just … give up your armament, whether you want to join the political process or (are) not interested about the political process, you don’t have any political agenda, it doesn’t matter.”

“The most important thing for me, legally and constitutionally, … (is) that you’re not allowed, as a citizen, to hold machine guns and hurt people or properties.”

“This is the only thing that we ask. We don’t ask for anything. As I said, we give them full amnesty,” he said.


Source: Agencies	01-03-2016 – 15:37 Last updated 01-03-2016 – 15:37

Local Editor

However, Assad warned: “That’s what we can do, but at the end everything has a limit. It depends on the other side.”

Describing the truce as a "glimmer of hope", the president also offered an amnesty to opposition militants if they agree to disarm.

"Just ... give up your armament, whether you want to join the political process or (are) not interested about the political process, you don't have any political agenda, it doesn't matter.”

"The most important thing for me, legally and constitutionally, ... (is) that you're not allowed, as a citizen, to hold machine guns and hurt people or properties.”

"This is the only thing that we ask. We don't ask for anything. As I said, we give them full amnesty," he said.


Source: Agencies	01-03-2016 - 15:37 Last updated 01-03-2016 - 15:37

Hundreds of Militants Sign Syria Ceasefire

More than 1,200 gunmen in southwestern Syria’s Daraa province who earlier fought against government forces have signed a ceasefire agreement with authorities.

Governor of the Daraa province, Mohammad Khaled al-Hannu, told reporters that most persons, who come from the local town of Ibta, will be able to return to normal life in the foreseeable future.

"We expect that in the coming days new agreements will be signed as part of national reconciliation process," the governor said.

Talks with authorities were attended by members of the so-called militant opposition groups of “Free Syrian Army” and“Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade”. After the meeting they signed a refusal to continue combat actions against the official Damascus.

Over the past 24 hours, a deal on reconciliation with Russia’s mediation was signed with the leaders in two villages in the province of Damascus, bringing the total number of such agreements to 37.

The ceasefire in Syria hammered out by Moscow and Washington came into force at midnight local time on February 27. An hour before the ceasefire became effective the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to support the cessation of hostilities. The document drafted by Russia and the United States was backed by all 15 member-states of the UNSC.

It is to be applied to all parties to the Syrian conflict but for ISIL (so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant) and Nusra Front (both are Takfiri groups) "or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council." Airstrikes on these two groups will be continued.