Ceasefire in Towns of Talbisa, Rastan and Al-Hula in Homs Countryside between Syrian Government and Free Syrian Army (FSA)

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Ceasefire in Towns of Talbisa, Rastan and Al-Hula in Homs Countryside between Syrian Government and Free Syrian Army (FSA)
  • Date
    31 Jul 2017
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Government
  • Peace process
    Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
  • Parties
    ‘Moderate Syrian armed opposition’
    Syrian Regime
  • Third parties
    Syrian Tomorrow Movement [Suria al-Ghad]
    Russian Ministry of Defence
    Egyptian Government
  • Description
    10-point ceasefire agreement agreeing to the unity of the Syrian state, a cessation of hostilities, guarantees of non-infringement of respective areas, to talk of establishing committees to investigate the conditions of detainees, the deployment of 'Chechyan' Russian forces, the free movement of goods, a prohibition of support for al-Qaeda factions, that the governance of the city will be civic, and permission to import building materials to begin reconstruction.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Formal structured process
  • Rationale
    -> Link to national level; external support mechanism; culture of signing A regional mechanism supported the negotiation of the agreement that came as the result of negotiation held in Cairo and monitored by representatives of the Russian and Egyptian governments. Russia – officially nominated as a “guarantor” of the agreement – has quickly assumed a central role in the negotiations between Bashar al-Assad government and the opposition factions, aiming at bringing a definitive end to the Syrian conflict through the persistent practice of signing local agreements.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    Yes
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    It seems that the agreement is directly linked to the national peace process. The Syrian government is one of the signing parties. Moreover, the agreement refers to the “guarantee of the unity of the territory of Syria”.
  • Name of Locale
    Northern Countryside of Homs
  • Nature Of Locale
    Region
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    34.878199, 36.729795
  • Participant type
    Central state actor
    Local armed group
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    Syrian Tomorrow Movement, Russian Ministry of Defence, Egyptian government
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Central state actor Unclear/Other

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists ten provisions to address local grievances.

    Page 1,
    1. Guarantee of the unity of the territory of Syria and the parties will not try to divide them.
    2. Ensure a ceasefire of all types of weapons.
    3. No infringement [by any party] on areas controlled by [any] party.
    4. Work to establish a committee to investigate the conditions of the detainees and work on the release [of detainees] by all parties.
    5. Declaration of Russia as the guarantor.
    6. Upon agreement, ‘Chechnyan’ forces will begin to be deployed.
    7. Food, fuel, goods and spare parts are permitted to enter and leave the Northern countryside of Homs, without quantity restrictions.
    8. Factions supporting the al-Qaeda ideology will not be supported.
    9. City administration will be undertaken by civil offices and local councils.
    10. Permit the import of building materials to begin the reconstruction process after the submission of the quantity [needed] the study of which is undertaken by a competent committee.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Ceasefire of the Northern Countryside of Homs including the towns of Talbisa, Rastan and al-Hula

31 July 20171

1. Guarantee of the unity of the territory of Syria and the parties will not try to divide them.

2. Ensure a ceasefire of all types of weapons.

3. No infringement [by any party] on areas controlled by [any] party.

4. Work to establish a committee to investigate the conditions of the detainees and work on the release [of detainees] by all parties.

5. Declaration of Russia as the guarantor.

6. Upon agreement, ‘Chechnyan’ forces will begin to be deployed.

7. Food, fuel, goods and spare parts are permitted to enter and leave the Northern countryside of Homs, without quantity restrictions.

8. Factions supporting the al-Qaeda ideology will not be supported.

9. City administration will be undertaken by civil offices and local councils.

10. Permit the import of building materials to begin the reconstruction process after the submission of the quantity [needed] the study of which is undertaken by a competent committee.

Parties [Agreement status unknown]:

‘Moderate Syrian armed opposition’

Syrian Regime

Third parties:

Syrian Tomorrow Movement [Suria al-Ghad]

Russian Ministry of Defence

Egyptian Government