Merkel says Putin confirmed commitment to Syria ceasefire

Reuters
French President Francois Hollande (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend a joint news conference after a meeting to discuss EU summit with Turkey on migrants at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 4, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia's commitment to a ceasefire that took hold in Syria last weekend during a phone conversation with four EU leaders. "I would like to stress one more time that the commitment to hold the ceasefire was confirmed as a key message by the Russian president: only attacks on Daesh and al-Nusra Front," Merkel said during a news conference with French President Francois Hollande. She was referring to U.S.- and Russia-backed plans for a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria that excludes groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front. Turning to EU talks with Turkey on Monday to discuss efforts to stem the flow of migrants reaching Europe, Merkel said: "Our efforts are not done yet ... I understand that Turkey also expects Europe to deliver." (Reporting by Paul Carrel and Maria Sheahan; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Caroline Copley)