Obama warns US may walk away from Syria deal unless aid flows

Obama warns US may walk away from Syria deal unless aid flows
U.S. President Barack Obama warned that the United States may walk away from a Syrian cease-fire deal reached with Russia last week unless humanitarian aid reaches needy people. 

After Obama met with his national security team on September 16, the White House issued a statement saying Obama "expressed deep concern that, despite decreased violence across the country, the Syrian regime continues to block the flow of critical humanitarian aid." 

Obama "emphasized that the United States will not proceed with the next steps in the arrangement with Russia until we see seven continuous days of reduced violence and sustained humanitarian access," the White House said.

The president’s statement came after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Washington will not agree to begin joint targeting of Islamic militants in Syria, as called for after seven days of cease-fire under the deal, until Syria permits the aid to flow.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry told Lavrov by telephone that the United States expects Moscow to use its influence on Bashar Assad "to allow UN humanitarian convoys to reach Aleppo and other areas in need."

"Repeated" delays in allowing the convoys the aid to enter the country have been "unacceptable," Kerry said. 

The ultimatum to Russia and Syria came at the same time the United States and Russia abruptly cancelled a scheduled United Nations Security Council meeting on the Syrian cease-fire deal on September 16 and as signs emerged that the truce that went into effect on September 12 was fraying.

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