Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm happy to answer that question.
Canada was invited in May to join the International Syria Support Group, which is a group of 26 countries represented at the foreign minister level, to come up with plans for a cessation of hostilities and to pave the way for peace talks to resume between the opposition, represented through the high negotiations committee, and the Assad regime.
In February earlier this year the group led by the co-chairs, which are Russia and the United States, were able to arrive at a cessation of hostilities. Unfortunately, over time that ceasefire unravelled and the ISSG, including Canada, made great efforts over the summer and into last week to try to salvage it and come up with a new cessation of hostilities. A deal was announced early in September in Geneva by Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov. There was a ceasefire that entered into force on September 12, but unfortunately, events on the ground quickly made sure that the ceasefire unravelled.
Last week the ISSG met twice at the foreign minister level, and there was quite a bit of intense diplomatic activity pressuring the parties through these 26 countries' own channels to entice the parties to come back to a ceasefire and to pave the way for talks to resume. Unfortunately, that deal is in jeopardy today.