Syria Safe Zones to Last Six Months, Russia May Send Observers to Monitor Truce

Sputnik News

18:19 04.05.2017(updated 19:11 04.05.2017)

Russia is ready to send its observers to the safe zones in Syria and does not rule out other countries taking part in implementation of de-escalation, but only if all guarantor states agree to this, Russian delegation head at Astana talks and Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said Thursday.

ASTANA (Sputnik) – On May 4, Russia, Turkey and Iran, the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states, adopted a memorandum on four safe zones in the country.

"Russia is ready to take part in sending its observers to the so-called safe zones to take part in monitoring of the adherence to the cessation of hostilities, registering positive violations, but we as guarantor states agreed that participation of other countries is also possible but only on the basis of consensus [of the guarantors]," he told reporters.

The civil war in Syria has been lasting for around six years with government troops fighting against numerous opposition factions and terror organizations such as al-Nusra Front and Daesh, outlawed in Russia.

The nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime was introduced on December 30, 2016. Terrorist organizations are not part of the ceasefire.

"We agreed that the de-escalation zones will be established for a period of six months with the option of automatic extension for another six months unless there will not be some circumstances and the guarantor states will take the other decision. The memorandum can be indefinite if needed," Lavrentyev said.

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