Hammond urges cessation of hostilities, launching political transition in Syria

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Thursday reiterated the urgent need for cessation of hostilities and political transition in Syria.

"I am relieved that desperately-needed aid convoys have now arrived in five besieged areas of Syria. Starvation of civilians as a method of combat is unacceptable," Hammond said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

He called on the international community and particularly Russia, which has unique influence, to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government to lift sieges and grant full humanitarian access," Hammond said in a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

"Aid convoys are a step towards implementing the agreement reached at last week’s International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting in Munich, but there is much more to be done," he said.

"Members also committed to achieving a cessation of hostilities and to facilitating rapid progress in negotiations aimed at political transition. I call on all parties to do everything in their power to follow through on those agreements," he added.

Source: MENA