Eurasia Press & News
The Syrian president in the transitional period, Ahmed al-Sharaa, stressed the need to give priority to the language of dialogue in resolving regional conflicts, stressing that “active diplomacy” is the only way to overcome chronic crises in the region.
This came during a phone call with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, on Tuesday, January 27, which expressed the support of the United States of America for the aspirations of the Syrian people, according to the Presidency of the Syrian Republic.
Trump welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a “pivotal step towards ending the conflict,” praising the understandings on the integration agreements.
According to the statement, Al-Sharaa affirmed Syria’s adherence to its territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and the state’s keenness to preserve its institutions and promote civil peace, pointing to the importance of uniting international efforts to prevent the return of “terrorist organizations”, foremost of which is the “Islamic State”.
Al-Sharaa told his counterpart Trump that “New Syria” adopts the approach of openness and extends its hand to cooperate with all international parties on the basis of common interests and mutual respect.
For his part, Trump expressed America’s readiness to support reconstruction efforts in Syria, by encouraging investment and creating an attractive environment for capital, considering that Syria’s economic stability is “a cornerstone of the stability of the Middle East.”
Trump: ‘Great conversation’
Commenting on the call, Trump said he had a “wonderful” conversation with his Syrian counterpart, al-Shara’a, who he described as “highly respected.”
He said all matters related to Syria and that region were “going very well”, as we kill international media.
The call comes amid news of a new agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, coinciding with the arrival of a delegation from the latter to Damascus, headed by its leader, Mazloum Abdi.
For his part, US Senator Lindsey Graham said that he spoke with US President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, praising the US administration’s efforts to stabilize Syria.
He added that the Trump administration is fully engaged and is working to ensure that stability replaces chaos, noting at the same time that Congress is ready to help maintain stability, and to confront regional players he described as “harming America’s interests by moving against reliable allies like the Kurds.”
Graham has previously threatened to present a project to impose sanctions on any government or group involved in hostilities against the Kurds, especially the Syrian government.
U.S.-European Statement
In the same context, the United States of America, Britain, Germany and France welcomed the extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian government and the SDF, which was announced by the Syrian government on January 24.
In a joint statement published by the British Foreign Office on Tuesday, 27 January, the four countries called on all parties to fully abide by the ceasefire and exercise maximum restraint, calling on all external parties to join the efforts to peace and de-escalation.
It affirmed the commitment of all parties to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The statement also welcomed the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, stressing the need to maintain these corridors and resume basic services in the city of Ain al-Arab/Kobani.
Successive agreements
The Syrian Defense Ministry said on January 24 that the extension of the ceasefire period comes in support of the US operation to evacuate ISIS prisoners from the prisons of the SDF to Iraq.
In turn, the SDF said that it was agreed to extend the ceasefire for fifteen days, with international mediation, coinciding with the continuation of dialogue with Damascus.
She affirmed her commitment to the agreement and her keenness to respect it in order to contribute to reducing escalation, protecting civilians and creating the necessary conditions for stability.
The agreement came to previous agreements, where the Syrian president, Sharia, announced on January 18, reaching a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF.
On January 20, the Ministry of Defense announced a four-day deadline for the implementation of the agreement, which it extended to 15 days after the deadline.
