Moscow: Russia called on Syria on Tuesday to
immediately accept demands by the International Committee for
the Red Cross for a daily two-hour humanitarian truce after
talks with the Geneva-based body`s head.
The crucial backing from Moscow to exert stronger pressure
on its Soviet-era ally came after ICRC President Jakob
Kellenberger huddled with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for
about 90 minutes.
"The two parties call for the Syrian government and armed
groups to immediately agree to a daily humanitarian truce to
allow the ICRC access to the wounded and to civilians who need
to be evacuated," a Russian foreign ministry statement said.
Moscow "underscored the need to allow the ICRC access to
all detained persons in Syria following the protests", against
President Bashar al-Assad`s regime, the statement said.
Kellenberger then flew to Brussels to ask NATO members to
exert similar influence with Syria`s rebel forces.
The meetings and simultaneous visit to Syria by teams from
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and United Nations
come amid frenzied efforts by relief workers to reach
thousands of civilians trapped in the escalating violence.
The ICRC in particular has been promoting a daily
ceasefire that could be used for delivering aid and bringing
the injured to safety after a year of fighting that opposition
activists say has claimed more than 9,100 lives.
Kellenberger told the ITAR-TASS news agency before leaving
Moscow that he felt "gratified" that Russia shared Western
concerns about the humanitarian situation in Syria.
"I would like to note with satisfaction and gratitude that
Sergei Lavrov shares our concern about these problems,"
Kellenberger was quoted as saying.
"As you well understand, Russia`s support is very
important to us," he said. "The most important issue for us is
to ensure humanitarian ceasefires as soon as possible."
Other important questions were free access to detainees
and to ensure that prisoners were not ill-treated, he told
ITAR-TASS and television channel Vesti 24.
Russia first backed the idea in February and has since
stepped up its criticism of Assad after first blocking two UN
Security Council resolutions condemning him for the year of
bloody violence.
An ICRC spokeswoman in Moscow said the meeting was a part
of Kellenberger`s broader efforts to get world powers to
secure commitments from both sides to put down their arms for
a few hours each day.
PTI
