Leaders of Russia, four European countries praise ceasefire in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi all praised the Russia-U.S. deal on ceasefire in Syria in a phone conference on Friday.

The leaders noted with satisfaction that the ceasefire has been generally observed and preconditions have been created for the start of the political process in Syria through the establishment of intra-Syrian dialogue under U.N. auspices, an online Kremlin statement said.

"The leaders supported the roadmap on settlement agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and approved by U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254," the statement said.

Putin noted during the conference that the decision of the Syrian authorities to hold parliamentary elections in April 2016 was in line with the Syrian Constitution and did not interfere with the steps on building the peace process in Syria.

Meanwhile, the five leaders expressed their willingness to intensify joint efforts aimed at resolving acute humanitarian issues in the war-torn country, according to the statement.

They also stressed the need that all Syrian conflicting parties should strictly observe the truce, as well as the importance of continuing the uncompromising fight against the Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations.

The five leaders agreed to actively contribute to the efforts of the ISSG and U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura aimed at putting an end to the year-long bloodshed and violence in Syria, the statement said.

Russia and the United States, as co-chairs of the ISSG, on Feb. 22 signed an agreement establishing ceasefire in Syria, which became effective at midnight of Feb. 26 and was accepted by the Syrian government as well as a range of opposition groups.

In a separate development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Staffan de Mistura planned to start on March 9 a "negotiations marathon", in which several Syrian opposition groups were expected to participate.

"First, the U.N. negotiators will hold separate meetings with the opposition groups and with the Syrian Government. And then I hope they will come together in the same room," an online Russian Foreign Ministry statement quoted Lavrov as saying.

"There is no connection between the cessation of hostilities and the beginning of these (intra-Syrian) talks. These processes should begin and proceed in parallel, in a sustainable manner and at an increasing pace," Lavrov told reporters. Endi