17 Apr 2025
Sputnik News- The Cairo platform of the Syrian opposition criticized the Astana memorandum on de-escalation in Syria and insisted any decision should be of UN nature.

The Cairo platform of�the Syrian opposition criticizes the recently-reached Astana memorandum on�de-escalation in�Syria and insists any decision on�the settlement in�the country should be of�UN nature, the head of�the platform's delegation, Firas Khalidi, told Sputnik Tuesday in�Geneva, where the new round�of intra-Syrian talks kicked off�earlier in�the day.

"We demand that any agreement on�Syria to�be of�UN nature and not coming from�the countries that are parties to�the conflict," Khalidi said.

At the latest Astana meeting on�Syria on�May 3-4, three ceasefire guarantor states�� Russia, Turkey and Iran�� finalized and signed a memorandum on�establishment of�four safe zones in�Syria. The four zones span the northwestern Idlib province and parts of�the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo, the north of�the central Homs province, Eastern Ghouta near�Damascus, as�well as�southern Daraa and Quneitra regions. The memorandum came into�force on�May 6.

UN Special Envoy for�Syria Staffan de Mistura called the development promising.

"Contrary to�what the UN envoy said, we do not see a positive reflection from�Astana on�Geneva�. We do not think that any unilateral action is in�Syria's favor unless it comes as�a complete basket of�political solutions that includes solving all the major issues of�security, constitution and governance," Khalidi said.

Geneva is currently hosting the sixth round�of intra-Syrian talks, mediated by�the United Nations. During the last round, Staffan de Mistura specified the agenda as�four "baskets"�� counterterrorism, constitution, elections and governance. This round�is expected to�focus on�constitutional matters as�key for�resolving other issues.
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