29 Mar 2024
Sputnik - The three ceasefire guarantor states, namely Russia, Turkey and Iran, have discussed the creation of zones of de-escalation of tensions in Syria on the first day of the newest round of talks on Syrian settlement in Astana.





MOSCOW (Sputnik) According toa source inthe Syrian opposition delegation, Russia proposed the creation offour such safe zones acrossSyria. However, the delegation ofthe armed Syrian opposition noted inits address tothe ceasefire guarantor states that the possible creation ofthese zones might be a temporary measure and should not substitute the political process.

The issue ofSyrian de-escalation zones was discussed betweenRussian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump duringtheir phone conversation onTuesday, and was mentioned the same day inPutin's talks withGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Four Safe Zones

The Kazakh capital has already hosted three rounds oftalks onSyria: January 23-24, February 15-16 and March 14-15. During these negotiations, the participants agreed toset upa ceasefire monitoring group onSyrian ceasefire amongother issues.

Ahead ofthe ongoing roundof intra-Syrian talks, a representative ofthe Syrian armed opposition told Sputnik that the Russian side had created a paper witha list ofproposals aboutthe observance ofthe ceasefire regime and establishment ofzones ofde-escalation oftensions.

According tothe paper, which was given toopposition members and seen bySputnik, Russia proposed the creation offour de-escalation zones: one inthe Idlib province, a second inthe north ofthe city ofHoms, a third ineastern Ghouta, and a fourth insouthern Syria. Russia also proposed the delineation ofsafety lines alongthe borders ofthe de-escalation zones inorder toavoid direct fire betweenopposing sides ofthe Syrian conflict.

The document also presupposed the possible deployment ofthe guarantor states' armed groups toSyria forceasefire monitoring and special working groups. However, it remains unclear which international forces will ensure the safety inthese four zones.

Document Obligatory forAll Parties

According toKazakh Foreign Ministry's Asia and Africa Department Director General Aidarbek Tumatov, the issue ofde-escalation zones is included onthe agenda forthe first day ofthe talks.
"A memorandum onthe so-called de-escalation zones, zones ofreducing tension is being worked out. The delegations are currently negotiating this topic," Tumatov told reporters.


When asked whether the Syrian opposition would agree tosign the paper, Tumatov said that the document would be obligatory forall the sides tothe Syrian conflict.

"We are talking aboutthe ceasefire guarantor states which will adopt the document If the guarantor states agree ona document, it would be obligatory forall the sides," Tumatov said.

It is not yet clear which international organizations will facilitate the security inthe four safe zones. According toa source inone ofthe delegations, the parties are considering various options, ofwhich include the military forces ofnon-ceasefire guarantor states.
"We have not decided yet. We are considering all options. We want them tobe moderate, independent," the source said, adding that Algeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, aswell asthe BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] and the CSTO [the Collective Security Treaty Organization] countries are underconsideration.


"But nobody trusts each other," the source added.

Ankara, however, hopes that the document onthe establishment offour safe zones inSyria will be signed followingthe ongoing roundof Astana talks, according toTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"This is one ofthe problems that our groups discussed inAstana the opposition and the government. There are four documents, onthree ofthem we have reached a consensus We are discussing this inAstana now, and I hope that we will find mutual understanding onthis issue," Cavusoglu told Russian journalists when asked how proposals tocreate four safe zones inSyria are being discussed inAstana.


If adopted, the document will enter intoforce 24 hours afterits signing, while the determination ofthe borders may take two weeks, according toa source inone ofthe delegations.

Opposition's Provocations

The fourth roundof talks was accompanied bythe opposition's demonstrative actions. A source inthe Syrian armed opposition said that atmidday, the delegation allegedly halted its participation inthe talks and urged the ceasefire mediator states tostop hostilities.

The allegations were refuted later inthe day byTumatov, who said that the Syrian armed opposition did not freeze their participation, butrather ended their schedule fortoday.
"The opposition delegation simply left, because all oftheir meetings is over Everything is inworking over. I hope that the opposition will take part inall negotiations tomorrow too," Tumatov told reporters.


The armed Syrian opposition proceeded withan address tothe parties inthe talks, claiming that it regarded the possible creation ofde-escalation zones inSyria a temporary move and not a substitute forthe political process.

"Creating security zones is a temporary measure forde-escalation and not an alternative forthe political transition," the statement continues.

The opposition, according tothe statement, is calling fora "confirmation that any decision onSyria and any settlement should start simultaneously withthe political transition and respect tothe territorial integrity ofSyria."

UN Special Envoy forSyria Staffan de Mistura noted a "serious development" incourse ofthe talks onSyria inAstana afterhis meeting withthe Syrian armed opposition and the US delegation.

"I am not going togive any comment now. But there is a serious development. I think we will talk [with journalists] tonight at9 o'clock [15:00 GMT]," de Mistura told reporters, having concluded his bilateral meeting withthe opposition delegation and his consultations withthe US team.

The current roundof negotiations will continue tomorrow.

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