EU welcomes ceasefire in Syria

Tehran, Dec 31, IRNA - The European Union (EU) hailed the declaration of an agreement for the cessation of hostilities in Syria on the eve of New Year. The EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in a statement also expressed concern over reports of continued air strikes and fighting in Wadi Barada in west of Damascus, Eeas.europa.EU wrote. 'What matters first and foremost is that it can be implemented fully and by all the parties to the conflict,' she said. 'And, most of all, if successful it can open the way to a renewal of intra-Syrian talks under UN auspices, within the framework set by the UN Security Council,' she said. Mogherini said the EU would 'welcome any intermediate step facilitated by other international players, such as the announced meeting in Astana, if fully inclusive and aimed at preparing a fruitful and meaningful resumption of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva under UN auspices.' Mogherini spoke on Friday (Dec 30) to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and to the UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, to coordinate their work for Syria. She noted that the EU would host in Brussels in mid-January a round of bilateral talks to find common ground on the post-conflict in Syria, and on reconciliation and reconstruction, in full coordination and support of the talks that will be held in Geneva in February. In addition, the EU will be hosting a conference in Brussels, follow-up to last year's London conference on Syria, in spring. She added that the EU wants to contribute, in coordination with others, to a negotiated peace for a united and democratic Syria, and to help the Syrian people to rebuild their country once the political conditions are in place. This is also the only way to achieve a decisive defeat Daesh terrorists in Syria, stressed Mogherini. 1378/IRNA