A Renewal of Hope in Syria - an Agreement to the Terms of Peace

United States(US) Secretary of State John Kerry has announced  an agreement with his Russian counterpart of a provisional agreement on terms of a cessation of hostilities in Syria. And with Secretary Kerry's proclamation, a breath of hope has been resurrected in Syria, where the five-year conflict has killed more than 250,000 people and has driven millions of displaced people from their homes into refugee camps in neighboring lands and in search of comfort toward the borders of Europe.

Though the agreement does not guarantee peace, it offers a framework unto the conflict parties for a ceasefire and eventual peace. Open ended war is unsustainable. The effects upon civilians, especially women and children has proved dire. 

In numerous conversations with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Secretary Kerry confirmed: "We have reached a provisional agreement in principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities that could begin in the coming days." Opposition forces appear supportive of a ceasefire and so does regime leader Bashar al Assad.

As reported by the Associated Press(AP) earlier today, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to affirm the agreement when they speak by telephone soon. 

Thus, it has come to pass that despite all the deaths, the crimes and  the horrors of the Syrian war, peace appears neigh...we pray.