Small Wars Journal

At Issue in U.N. Syria Ceasefire Plan: Who is a Terrorist?

Thu, 12/31/2015 - 2:58am

At Issue in U.N. Syria Ceasefire Plan: Who is a Terrorist? By Arshad Mohammed and Louis Charbonneau, Reuters

A U.N. plan to suspend Syria's nearly five-year-old civil war calls for listing which militant groups may be fought despite an eventual ceasefire, one of the toughest issues vexing diplomats trying to end the conflict.

A U.N. draft discussion paper obtained by Reuters includes eight "framework principles" to be embraced by all countries and rebel groups that sign on to a ceasefire. The ceasefire plan also lists issues still to be negotiated, including defining "those terrorist organizations against whom combat is allowed."

The paper's authenticity was confirmed by two diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity…

Read on.