Turkish FM: Ceasefire will not hold up if Russia continues targeting Syrian opposition

If Russia does not end its strikes on Syrian opposition fighters, a ceasefire reached by major powers will not hold and humanitarian access will not be effectively secured, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.

Today’s Zaman reported Cavusoglu speaking after a meeting in Munich at which the US, Russia and more than a dozen other nations agreed to cease hostilities to pave a way for a political transition in Syria.

In comments broadcast live from Munich by Turkey’s state broadcaster, Cavusoglu said Turkey and its partners do not object to Russia targeting groups such as the ISIS and Nusra Front in Syria but Moscow needs to do so in coordination with the US-led coalition.

The Turkish FM earlier welcomed the deal to cease hostilities, saying it is an "important step" toward resolving the Syrian crisis, Daily Sabah reported.

"What is important now is embracing this opportunity, stopping the airstrikes, ceasing targeting civilians and providing humanitarian access," he wrote in his Twitter account.