World leaders meet to support Syria cease-fire

Islamic Extremism

The international community met Monday in Geneva to shore up the shaky cessation of violence in Syria and pave a way to the resumption peace talks. While all sides are reporting some incidents of shelling and bombing, Syria is overall calmer than it has been in years.

Many hope for a two week pause in fighting that will lead to a political settlement. CCTV America’s Nathan King reports from Washington D.C.

The United Nations Secretary General and his envoy for Syria are realistic but hopeful for peace. The meeting examined allegations of breaches of the peace, and was aimed at bolstering aid workers already delivering aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians that have not seen supplies for months.

Many hope aid supplies will create an environment that could lead to resumption of peace talks which collapsed in February.

The United Nations envoy for Syria hopes to resume talks on March 7 if the two week cessation of hostilities hold.

But that is a big if.

A video purportedly shows Islamic group Ahrar Al sham, not included in the current agreement, targeting Syrian government positions. Syrian opposition forces also accuse Russia and the Syrian government of targeting them.

Diplomats said the window of opportunity is narrow and that the cessation of violence is patchy and incomplete, but the fact that is holding at all is a step forward in Syria that has had no peace in five years.


Former Ambassador Theodore Kattouf on Syria crisis

CCTV America’s Mike Walter interviewed Theodore Kattouf, the former U.S. ambassador to Syria about the prospects of lasting peace in Syria. Watch the interview here:
Follow Mike Walter on Twitter @mikewaltercctv