UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the truce announced on Monday "contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations," which had been scheduled to resume this week.
United Nations, United States:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed a ceasefire agreement for Syria as a "long-awaited signal of hope" and urged all sides to abide by it.
The United States and Russia announced that the cessation of hostilities would go into effect on Saturday and apply to Syrian government forces and rebel fighters, but not to the ISIS group and other extremists.
The agreement on the ceasefire "is a long-awaited signal of hope to the Syrian people that after five years of conflict, there may be an end to their suffering in sight," said Ban in a statement.
Once the cessation of hostilities takes hold, the United Nations will work to secure "access to as many places as possible in order to deliver humanitarian aid," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
The 17-nation group backing Syria's peace process agreed at a meeting in Munich to implement a ceasefire within a week, but the truce never materialized.
Ban said the truce announced on Monday "contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations," which had been scheduled to resume this week.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has indicated that the new round of peace talks is likely to be delayed.
Efforts have been intensifying to resolve Syria's war -- which has left more than 260,000 dead, forced millions from their homes and devastated the country -- as the conflict approaches the five-year mark next month.
The United States and Russia announced that the cessation of hostilities would go into effect on Saturday and apply to Syrian government forces and rebel fighters, but not to the ISIS group and other extremists.
The agreement on the ceasefire "is a long-awaited signal of hope to the Syrian people that after five years of conflict, there may be an end to their suffering in sight," said Ban in a statement.
Once the cessation of hostilities takes hold, the United Nations will work to secure "access to as many places as possible in order to deliver humanitarian aid," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
The 17-nation group backing Syria's peace process agreed at a meeting in Munich to implement a ceasefire within a week, but the truce never materialized.
Ban said the truce announced on Monday "contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations," which had been scheduled to resume this week.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has indicated that the new round of peace talks is likely to be delayed.
Efforts have been intensifying to resolve Syria's war -- which has left more than 260,000 dead, forced millions from their homes and devastated the country -- as the conflict approaches the five-year mark next month.
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