Joint Statement by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States call on all parties in Syria to urgently reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire and to resume negotiations as soon as possible, with the aim of achieving a peaceful and sustainable integration of northeast Syria into a unified and sovereign Syrian state.
The four countries welcome the 15-day extension of the ceasefire between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as announced on January 24, and urge all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire and exercise maximum restraint.
They reaffirm the commitment of all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and welcome the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. They stress the need to preserve these corridors and to restore basic services in the city of Kobani.
The statement also welcomes the essential role played by partners, including Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Syrian government, and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in addressing the challenges posed by ISIS.
It emphasizes the importance of maintaining focused collective efforts to combat ISIS and calls on all parties to avoid creating any security vacuum in the vicinity of detention facilities holding ISIS members.
The four countries reiterate their support for a comprehensive political transition process in Syria that protects the rights of all Syrians, stressing that achieving stability in northeast Syria through peaceful means is a central priority to prevent the resurgence of terrorism and to enhance regional security.