Syria: Assad to consider UN peace plan for Aleppo

“President Assad has been informed by (U.N. envoy Staffan) de Mistura of the main points of his initiative. (Assad) said it was worthy of study and that work on it is needed… in order to re-establish security in Aleppo”, a statement, which was issued by his office after Assad spoke with De Mistura in Damascus, said.

The trip was De Mistura’s second visit to the country since he was appointed as the UN’s special envoy for the Syrian crisis in July.

On October 30^th, De Mistura put forth an “action plan” for Syria, in which he proposed to “freeze” fighting locally to allow aid deliveries and develop a firm base for peace talks. According to the Syrian Presidency’s Facebook page, Assad emphasized “the importance of Aleppo”, which has been constantly fought over by the rebels and the Syrian Army since July 2012, during the meeting.

According to Syrian state news agency SANA, De Mistura said that he was determined to ensure that the mission was a success. Previously, the UN envoy had said that Aleppo is a “good candidate” to become a “freeze” zone.

Since the insurgent offensive began in Aleppo, the Syrian army and rebel forces have traded blows, and control different parts of the city. Since December 2013, Assad’s warplanes have conducted air raids almost every day on rebel-controlled districts of the city in defiance of a UN Security Council ban, reportedly killing hundreds of civilians.

De Mistura’s predecessors Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi had on numerous occasions tried to implement a ceasefire in Syria, without any success. Peace has evaded the war-stricken country despite multiple talks between exiled opposition members and the Syrian regime earlier in the year.