Homs Cease-fire Extended

CNN reports that a cease-fire in Homs city has been extended for three days as civilians are evacuated, as part of concessions made during the first week of the Geneva II conference.

“‘I hope this will allow us to evacuate yet more civilians and deliver much needed additional supplies,’ said Valerie Amos, the U.N. humanitarian chief. ‘The protection of civilians caught up in this horrendous conflict in Syria is the greatest priority for U.N. agencies and humanitarian partners.’

More than 800 civilians have been given safe passage out of the city since the deal was put in place Friday.”

But the U.N.-brokered truce “has been violated several times. Vehicles from the Red Crescent and United Nations had a difficult time entering the city over the weekend as they were targeted by gunfire and explosives.

Eleven people were killed as the operations were being carried out, said Amos. ‘People seeking refuge and those carrying out humanitarian operations should not be fired on,’ Amos said in a statement.

“‘U.N. and Red Crescent workers told me that many of the people who left Old Homs were traumatized and weak. They also said that they witnessed terrible conditions at the field hospital in the Old City, where the equipment is basic, there are no medicines and people are in urgent need of medical attention.’”

Russia and China Skip Security Council Meeting on Humanitarian Aid

The New York Times reports that neither Russian or Chinese representatives attended a U.N. meeting on a draft resolution “that would force all parties in the bloody conflict to allow access for humanitarian organizations,” causing the negotiations to fall apart. Both countries are staunch Assad allies.

“On Monday afternoon, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly I. Churkin, did not directly say he would veto the draft if it came up for a vote, but called it ‘one of those political things’ that would not be adopted by the Security Council. ‘This text would not have any practical, positive impact on the situation,’ Mr. Churkin said.

“The Chinese ambassador, Liu Jieyi, said Monday evening that he was concerned that a humanitarian resolution would disrupt the political talks under way in Geneva. ‘It’s a delicate process,’ he said. He refused to say whether China would veto a proposed resolution.”

Third Chemical Weapons Shipment Leaves Syria

The BBC reports that a third shipment of chemical weapons materials has left Syria, with some destroyed in the country, not at sea.

“The material was shipped on board a Norwegian cargo vessel, accompanied by a fleet from China, Denmark, Norway and Russia, the joint U.N.-OPCW mission said. Syria has recently missed several deadlines in an internationally agreed destruction timetable. But the government insists it will meet the final deadline at the end of June.

“Under a U.N. resolution backed by Russia and the U.S., Syria is to surrender all of its 1,300 tonnes of declared chemical weapons for destruction by mid-2014,” though some experts are skeptical the deadline will be met.

Pirate Radio Gives Voice to Syrian Opposition

The New York Times also profiles the opposition-run “pirate” radio stations now broadcasting from outside the country.

“The stations are run by young civilian activists who played an important role early in the uprising but have since been targeted by government forces, sidelined by Islamist rebels and attacked by extremist groups who consider them infidels for airing music and women’s voices,” writes Ben Hubbard.

“As these activists have lost ground inside Syria, they have increasingly resorted to the airwaves to maintain their voice. Along the way, some have also received support from the United States government, which has spent more than $20 million to train and equip opposition journalists. Washington has also facilitated visas and sponsored trips to Geneva for a number of opposition journalists to cover the international peace talks that resumed thereon Monday, according to several program participants.

“The opposition radio stations are the most recent arrivals on Syria’s combative news media scene, where parties on both sides try to shape perceptions of a conflict that is conducted largely out of the public eye, because the violence and government restrictions severely limit journalistic access.”

Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team:

WSJ: Attacks on Convoys in Syria Overshadow Peace Talks

Reuters: Russia Decries U.N. Draft on Syria Aid, Urges Resolution on Terrorism

AP: US, Russia May Meet Syria Delegates

PBS Frontline: Battle Against ISIS May Help Unify Fractured Syrian Rebels

Al Jazeera: Al Qaeda Leaves Besieged Syrian Camp