BEIRUT (Sputnik) – A number of countries could use the ceasefire in Syria in order to change the balance of power in the conflict-torn country, which in turn would bring Syria to the starting point of the conflict, Syrian State Minister for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar told Sputnik.
"If the cessation of hostilities is a temporary situation for the change of balance by external actors, those who will want to do that will soon act and we will return to point zero," Haidar said.
The minister added that the Syrian government supports all international efforts that are in the interest of the Syrian people and "has no problem" with the current ceasefire endorsed by the UN Security Council.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition factions, including the Western-backed "moderate opposition," and extremist groups, such as ISIL (also known as Daesh), which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia and the United States.
The United States and Russia have remained at odds over the future of the current Syrian government and President Assad. Washington insists that Assad leave office while Moscow is committed to strengthening Assad’s role in fighting ISIL, as well as other terrorist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front).
Russia has been launching airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria at the request of Assad since late September 2015. A US-led international coalition has been conducting a separate military campaign against ISIL in Syria, albeit without the approval of Damascus or the UN Security Council, since September 2014.
