US backs Turkey, Russia's roles in Syrian cease-fire


A top U.S. official in the anti-Daesh coalition Brett McGurk has voiced his country's support for Turkey and Russia which are assuming leading roles in enforcing a cease-fire in Syria.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing Munich Security Conference on Sunday, the special U.S. presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter Daesh also acknowledged the shortcomings of the previous U.S. administration in deescalating violence and brokering a truce in the region over the last couple of years.

"One of the reasons that process did not succeed as we had hoped is frankly because we were guarantor and Russia was a guarantor. It turns out when the U.S. is a guarantor, we don't have people on the ground, we became a bit of a ping-pong ball to try the control the situation," McGurk said.

McGurk underlined Washington's full support for Turkey's efforts, and its ongoing discussions with Russia.

"Turkey and Russia are suitable guarantors and we are looking for a role that the U.S. can come in to help reinforce that process through Astana," he said.

Turkey and Russia hammered out a general cease-fire deal in Syria last December, followed by talks in the Kazakh capital among belligerent parties to enforce the cease-fire.

At the Astana Talks, Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed to a trilateral mechanism for observing and ensuring compliance with the cease-fire that went into effect on Dec. 30.