Talks on Syria de-escalation zones to be continued in Iran

Russia's lead negotiator Alexander Lavrentiev says Turkey, Russia and Iran failed to establish the "de-escalation zones" in war-torn Syria. The trio plan to take up the issue in a meeting in Iran next month.

Moscow, Tehran and Ankara agreed in May to establish four "de-escalation" zones but are yet to decide on borders and how to police these zones.
Reuters

Moscow, Tehran and Ankara agreed in May to establish four "de-escalation" zones but are yet to decide on borders and how to police these zones.

Russia, Turkey and Iran failed hammer out details over de-escalation zones, including setting the boundaries and policing the four safe zones in war-torn Syria, Moscow's chief negotiator said.

Russian delegation head Alexander Lavrentiev said that after the end of the latest two-day negotiations in Kazakhstan's capital Astana that documents outlining how the four zones should work "need finalising" despite being "essentially agreed" between the three key power-brokers.

Moscow and Tehran, which back Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad, and rebel supporter Ankara agreed in May to establish four "de-escalation" zones in a potential breakthrough after years of fighting that has claimed more than 320,000 lives and displaced over 10 million people.

TRT World's Iolo ap Dafydd reports details of talks.

While fighting dropped off in the weeks after the deal, it has ratcheted up in some areas since, and the international players have yet to finalise the boundaries of the zones or determine who will police them.

"We have not yet managed directly to establish the de-escalation zones," Lavrentiev said, insisting however that "de-facto" safe areas already existed on the ground.

He added that there had been no definitive agreement over the contentious issue of "which specific forces" would police the zones.

TRT World and Agencies

A working meeting of representatives from Russia, Iran and Ankara is set to take place in Tehran at the start of August to help thrash out the remaining disagreements.

Regime leader blames Ankara

A working meeting of representatives from Russia, Iran and Ankara is set to take place in Tehran at the start of August to help thrash out the remaining disagreements, Russian news agencies cited a joint statement as saying.

Syrian regime's lead negotiator Bashar al Ja'afari, however, blamed Turkey for blocking the agreement saying because of Ankara's position the talks have achieved "very modest" results.

Earlier Russia said that it may deploy its military to police the borders of planned de-escalation zones in Syria within two to three weeks after finalising an agreement with Turkey and Iran - which didn't materialise on Wednesday.

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