29 Mar 2024
Sputnik - Astana platform of the Syrian opposition intends to create a group to support the creation of safe zones in Syria.


GENEVA (Sputnik) Astana platform ofthe Syrian opposition is going tocreate a group withlocal political forces innorthern Syria toreinforce and support the memorandum onsafe zones agreed onin Kazakhstan, platform's leader Randa Kassis told Sputnik Monday afterher meeting withRussia's envoy tothe UN Office atGeneva (UNOG) Alexei Borodavkin.


"In the end ofJune, I am going tocreate a group toreinforce Astana memorandum onde-escalation zones. I will create this group withsome parties that operate inthe Northern Syria, Western Aleppo and Idlib. They work there and they provide services there, working withlocal communities. That's really good, we can reinforce the memorandum together," Kassis said.

The platform's leader stated she would create this group instead ofan anti-terrorism group, which she planned tocreate earlier.

"It will focus solely onAstana process and the memorandum. Borodavkin supports my idea and my work," Kassis noted.

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.

Syrian settlement talks take place ontwo parallel platforms: the UN-mediated Geneva talks, and the Astana talks, brokered byRussia, Turkey and Iran. The three aforementioned states are the guarantors ofa nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime that came intoforce onDecember 30, 2016. The previous roundof the Geneva talks took place onMarch 23 March 31 and the fourth roundof Astana talks was held onMay 3 May 4.
https://theiranproject.com/vdcb08b5zrhb0gp.4eur.html
Your Name
Your Email Address