World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey on Wednesday welcomed the U.S.-Russia deal to halt hostilities in Syria.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu greeted the “cessation of hostilities” agreement that aims to end the five-year conflict.

“We welcome the steps taken to end the conflict in [Syria],” he told Anadolu Agency. “The U.S. and the Russian Federation have carried out works on this issue. The U.S. has informed us and has received our opinion.”

He added: “Turkey has always supported ending the conflict in Syria. The cessation of conflict depends entirely on compliance with the commitment given by Russia, the [Syrian] regime and all other allies on ending airstrikes and military operations.”

The cessation of hostilities, which is due to take effect at midnight Friday local time, was announced Monday. It is hoped it will allow for further aid to be delivered to desperate Syrians.

ISIL and al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, are excluded from the cessation of hostilities.

According to the UN figures released several months ago, more than 250,000 have been killed since the Syrian war began in 2011. This week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that around 400,000 people had died and 12 million people been displaced since the war started.