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Russia, Jordan agree to speed de-escalation zone in south Syria

Jordan said on Monday it was working with Russia to roll out a plan to end fighting in southwestern Syria "in the fastest possible time" - part of a peace pact for the border area brokered by Amman, Moscow and Washington.

 

Jordan and Russia's foreign ministers met in Amman to discuss progress in setting up a "de-escalation zone" in the particularly sensitive region that includes Syrian territory neighbouring Israel.

 

Neither side gave details on any sticking points, but diplomats told Reuters they have included the final positions of fighting forces, US unease about Russian involvement in policing the deal, and when to reopen a key border crossing.

 

Russia, which backs Syria's government in the civil war, and the United States, which backs rebel forces seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad, met secretly in Jordan in June and announced a ceasefire in Syria's southwest a month later.

 

The truce—the first peacemaking effort in the war by the US government under President Donald Trump—has reduced fighting there and is meant to lead to a longer-lasting de-escalation, a step towards a full settlement more than six years into the complex war.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.11.17, 21:47