| answer text |
<p>On 11 February, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my
right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), took part in
the latest round of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting in Munich
to discuss with his counterparts how to best support the political process and necessary
supporting steps, including a ceasefire and confidence building measures, called for
in UN Security Council resolution 2254.</p><p> </p><p>The ISSG agreed the need to
implement a cessation of hostilities within a week, to delivering humanitarian assistance
to named besieged communities by this weekend and to facilitate rapid progress in
negotiations aimed at political transition. If implemented fully and properly by every
ISSG member this will be an important step towards relieving the killing and suffering
in Syria. But it will only succeed if there is a major change of behaviour by the
Syrian regime and its supporters. Russia, in particular, claims to be attacking terrorist
groups and yet consistently bombs non-extremist groups including civilians. If this
agreement is to work, this bombing will have to stop: no cessation of hostilities
will last if moderate opposition groups continue to be targeted.</p>
|
|
