Existing alliances are best bet for negotiated peace in Syria

AS fragile and partial as it is, the current ceasefire in Syria remains the only initiative that offers a ray of hope for a negotiated peace. The truce was worked out among Turkey, Russia and Iran and is purportedly supported by seven major armed opposition groups which have more than 60,000 fighters in their ranks.

Yes, there have been violations; Turkey has appealed to Iran, as a guarantor of the accord, to restrain the forces of President Bashar al-Assad, who are accused of attempting to take control of a Damascus suburb under rebel control. B…