Syrian Government Supports De-Escalation Zones
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian government supports a Russian proposal to create four de-escalation zones intended to quell fighting in the country's six-year-old civil war, Syrian state media reported the foreign ministry as having said on Wednesday.
Peace talks sponsored by Russia, Iran and Turkey are taking place in Kazakhstan this week, and Russia said it hoped to negotiate on Thursday the creation of four de-escalation zones in Syria.
The Syrian armed opposition suspended its participation in the two-day talks on Wednesday and demanded an end to government bombing of areas under its control. Later in the day, a source close to the negotiations said the opposition group will return to the talks on Thursday.
"The Syrian Arab Republic supports the Russian initiative on de-escalation zones and confirms its commitment to the cessation of hostilities regime signed Dec. 30, 2016, which includes not bombing these regions," said state news agency SANA, reporting a foreign ministry statement, according to Reuters.
The report also said the Syrian army would continue to fight against terrorist groups across Syria.
Diplomatic efforts to end fighting in Syria have gained momentum in recent months with the announcement of a ceasefire in the Arab country in early January.
The truce excludes terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups controlling parts of it.
According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.
