The OIC Welcomes US-Russia Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the agreement reached by US President Barak Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin to impose a cessation of hostilities in Syria to be respected by all parties involved in military and paramilitary operations as of 27-2-2016. Such an agreement should contribute to the resumption of UN-sponsored Geneva negotiations to reach a political settlement for the Syrian crises, bring an end to the suffering of the Syrian people and the killings as well as the forced displacement to which they have been subjected for the last five years. OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani, underlined the need for all parties to abide by the cessation of military operations and aerial bombings, as well as in the delivery of humanitarian aid to all the besieged Syrian areas. This comes in the framework of the position announced by the OIC earlier on the need for a full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution NO. 2254 of 18-12-2015. Meanwhile, the OIC condemned the terrorist bombings which took place near the Shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab in Damascus, killing and injuring a large number of innocent Syrian citizens. The OIC also reiterated its principled and firm position, which condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and the need for combined international efforts to eliminate terrorism.