LONDON, Jan 27 (KUNA) -- A joint statement by the UK, France, Germany, and the US welcomed on Tuesday the 15-day extension of the ceasefire announced on January 24 between the Syrian Government Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Northeast of Syria.
The statement -- following a meeting between French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, German Deputy Foreign Minister Serap Gأ¼ler, and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, said, "We call upon all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and to exercise their utmost restraint. We urge all external parties to join us in pursuit of peace and de-escalation of violence." It added, "We reiterate the obligation of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
"We welcome the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. We emphasise that these corridors must be maintained, and basic services resumed in the city of Kobane.
"We also welcome the vital role played by partners, including Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in addressing the challenges posed by ISIS," it continued.
"We call upon all parties to avoid any security vacuum in and around ISIS detention centers. To address these concerns, we agreed to promptly convene a meeting of the International Coalition against ISIS." The statement urged, "All parties to swiftly agree to a permanent ceasefire, and to resume as soon as possible negotiations aiming at the peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary and sovereign state that effectively respects and protects the rights of all its citizens, based on the 18 January 2026 agreement, as the most effective path to stability in Syria.
"We reaffirm our support for an inclusive political transition in Syria, which protects the rights of all Syrians, and emphasise that the stabilization of North-East Syria through peaceful means constitutes a central priority for preventing a resurgence of terrorism and for regional security." The statement asserted, "We underline readiness to support and monitor, together with regional and international partners, the implementation of agreements between the parties which aim at a peaceful and sustainable integration of North-East Syria into a unitary, inclusive and sovereign state, effectively protecting the rights of all its citizens". (end) gta.hb