26 Apr 2024
Sputnik News- The Cairo platform of the Syrian opposition criticized the Astana memorandum on de-escalation in Syria and insisted any decision should be of UN nature.

The Cairo platform ofthe Syrian opposition criticizes the recently-reached Astana memorandum onde-escalation inSyria and insists any decision onthe settlement inthe country should be ofUN nature, the head ofthe platform's delegation, Firas Khalidi, told Sputnik Tuesday inGeneva, where the new roundof intra-Syrian talks kicked offearlier inthe day.

"We demand that any agreement onSyria tobe ofUN nature and not coming fromthe countries that are parties tothe conflict," Khalidi said.

At the latest Astana meeting onSyria onMay 3-4, three ceasefire guarantor states Russia, Turkey and Iran finalized and signed a memorandum onestablishment offour safe zones inSyria. The four zones span the northwestern Idlib province and parts ofthe neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo, the north ofthe central Homs province, Eastern Ghouta nearDamascus, aswell assouthern Daraa and Quneitra regions. The memorandum came intoforce onMay 6.

UN Special Envoy forSyria Staffan de Mistura called the development promising.

"Contrary towhat the UN envoy said, we do not see a positive reflection fromAstana onGeneva. We do not think that any unilateral action is inSyria's favor unless it comes asa complete basket ofpolitical solutions that includes solving all the major issues ofsecurity, constitution and governance," Khalidi said.

Geneva is currently hosting the sixth roundof intra-Syrian talks, mediated bythe United Nations. During the last round, Staffan de Mistura specified the agenda asfour "baskets" counterterrorism, constitution, elections and governance. This roundis expected tofocus onconstitutional matters askey forresolving other issues.
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