Cessation of hostilities in Syria

Today, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2268 endorsing the Russian-US statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, to begin at midnight (Damascus time) on 27 February.  

‘The broad support for this resolution among the parties to the conflict is encouraging. It gives hope that there is a willingness to respect this resolution and build further on it,’ Mr Brende said.   

In the resolution, the Security Council also reiterates its call on the parties to immediately allow access to humanitarian assistance.   

‘It is also very positive that the UN is now gaining access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria for the purposes of delivering aid. It is important that the Syrian population sees immediate and concrete results of the efforts at international level,’ Mr Brende said.  

In his briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced his intention to reconvene formal negotiations on 7 March.   

‘It is very encouraging that the UN Special Envoy sees a new opportunity to resume talks with the parties in Geneva. It is vital that the parties take full advantage of the space that has now been created and continue to work towards a political solution,’ Mr Brende said.   

Norway supports the work being done at both political and humanitarian level. Norway will provide NOK 2.4 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria this year, and has pledged to provide a total of NOK 10 billion in humanitarian aid over the next four years.