INTRO:
The Russian and US governments are now pressing on the factions they support in Syria to uphold a cessation of hostilities deal due to begin on February 27th.
Russia has agreed to stop bombing armed opposition forces backed by the US while Washington says it will stop hitting positions held by the Syrian government.
Jack Parrock reports from Moscow.
IN: "The ceasefire..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2 mins 57 secs
SCRIPT
REPORTER VO:
The ceasefire deal between the Russia and the US is being seen as the first step in putting an end to the 5 year conflict in Syria in which a quarter of a million people have been killed and over 11 million displaced.
Russian president Vladimir Putin says all sides must sign up to the deal by noon on February 26th but the agreement doesn't include groups deemed by both the US and Russia as terrorists.
BITE: Vladimir Putin - Russian President
"The opposition in its turn will stop military activity against the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic and groups supporting them. Concerning ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations acknowledged as such by the Security Council of the United Nations, they are fully excluded from the ceasefire regime. Strikes on them will continue to be carried out."
REPORTER VO:
Washington is also being tentatively positive about the agreement set to come into force on February 27th - despite both Russia and the US continuing their support of opposing factions in Syria.
Josh Earnest is a spokesperson for the Whitehouse.
BITE: Josh Earnest - Whitehouse Spokesman
"The cessation of all of hostilities is also envisioned as the first step in trying to, I guess the next step, in trying to advance the political track of the ongoing diplomatic discussions about bringing the kind of political change that's long overdue inside of Syria."
REPORTER VO:
But not everyone in Russia is so positive that the deal comes in the best faith.
Pavel Felghenhauer is an observer and journalist for the Novaya Gazeta who says this agreement will only serve to extract american influence in Syria and allow Russia to be dominant.
BITE: Pavel Felghenhauer - Novaya Gazeta in Moscow
"This is most likely seen from Moscow as a courtesy to the United States, a face-saving formula to allow the United States to disengage from Syria and accept Syria as a Russian, Iranian protectorate with a restored rule of Bashar Al-Assad."
REPORTER VO:
Human rights organizations say the ending of airstrikes and the reopening of humanitarian aid channels as part of the deal is crucial for the people still living in Syria.
Amnesty Interatnional has accused Russian airstrikes of targeting civilians.
Sergei Nikitin heads up the Moscow office of Amnesty.
BITE: Sergei Nikitin - Head of Amnesty International's Moscow office.
"Russia is in bad sense a champion of hitting civilians, hitting hospitals, schools, on several occasions. It's good that the airstrikes will stop but we are very much concerned about the violation of rules of war."
REPORTER VO:
Following the deal being signed by the US and Russia, the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad called elections for April 13th in the country.
All eyes will now be on whether the rebel factions in Syria and the Syrian government fully sign up to the deal - and whether they abide by the terms of the ceasefire once it comes into place.
ENDS