The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the warring parties in Syria have reached a nationwide cease-fire which is scheduled to start Friday Dec. 30 at 12 midnight.
The ministry released a statement saying that the Syrian regime and the opposition agreed that terrorist organizations recognized by the United Nations Security Council fall outside the deal. Turkey and the Russian Federation will act as guarantor countries supporting the cease-fire, the ministry added.
"The parties, with this understanding, committed to cease all armed, including aerial, attacks, and refrain from acquiring territory from one another/expanding the territories under their control at the expanse of one another. "Turkey and Russia strongly support and will jointly monitor the cease-fire/cessation of hostilities," the ministry said.
The statement added that Turkey will continue its efforts to ensure political transition in Syria on the basis of the Geneva Declaration and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.