Russia-U.S. truce monitoring center for Syria to be set up in Geneva: Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday a joint Russian-U.S. center to monitor the ceasefire in Syria will be launched in the next few days in Geneva, Switzerland.

After meeting here with the visiting United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Lavrov said at a press conference that Russia maintains daily contacts with the U.S. side on Syrian issues.

"The military of the two countries are literally in daily contact mode, and this interaction, which is now being carried out via videoconferencing, acquires direct nature with the creation in the next few days in Geneva of a joint Russian-U.S. center for a rapid response to ceasefire violations," Lavrov said.

The minister also said that an agreement was expected to be hammered out soon by Russia and the United States on a ceasefire in Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.

"I hope that the decision will be announced soon, maybe even in the next few hours," Lavrov said, noting that the two countries are making joint efforts to ensure a "broadened and consolidated" truce regime in Syria.

On the Geneva Intra-Syrian talks, Lavrov urged the United States to use its influence over opposition forces, put an end to the use of ultimatums as well as prevent the "brute-force scenario."

The minister in particular criticized the opposition High Negotiations Committee, which withdrew from the meeting held from April 13 to 27, for being "non-constructive."

For his part, de Mistura expressed the hope that the ceasefire regime in Syria could be re-launched in the next few hours, stressing both Russia and the United States should help "all of us to make sure that this (the truce) is brought back on track."

"May is going to be an important month for all of us. If Aleppo is returning to the cessation of hostilities status, meanwhile we will be re-starting and pushing for humanitarian access and intra-Syrian talks. Everything is interconnected," de Mistura said.

The envoy said the Russia-U.S. monitor center in Geneva should "become an immediate real-time containment" of violations of the Syrian ceasefire.

De Mistura visited Russia as the ceasefire in Syria was in danger of falling apart, especially with recently intensified violence in Aleppo.

The envoy met in Geneva with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday and re-emphasized his appeal to Washington and Moscow to renew their efforts to protect and restore the cessation of hostilities in Syria nationwide.

On Friday the United States and Russia agreed that a "regime of silence" take place near the capital Damascus and the northwestern province of Latakia to shore up the falling truce. Endi