De Mistura: Russia-US Syria deal potentially game-changer

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said that the Russian-American agreement remains potentially a game-changer on the settlement of pressing issues in Syria.

De Mistura told a press conference that the Russian-American agreement is potentially a game-changer on reduction of violence, humanitarian access and other issues in the Syria, Sputnik reported.  

According to the envoy, the main three areas that the agreement can change the status quo in Syria are reduction of violence, humanitarian access, and added that the "third dividend of the US-Russia agreement is issue of Fatah al-Sham Front (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) as well as grounding of the Syrian air force."

"The reduction of violence is substantial and by and large the ceasefire is holding, Second dividend of the agreement is humanitarian access… On that one we have a problem," de Mistura said.

The UN official said the Syrian government has not yet provided facilitation levels for humanitarian aid deliveries, adding that "those facilitation letters, i.e. final permission for the UN to actually reach those areas that in dire need of aid delivery, have not been received''.

He insisted that the facilitation levels are required immediately.

EA