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Conflict in Syria

Russia, Jordan agree on three-way consultations on de-escalation zone in Syria

The joint monitoring center for the southern Syrian de-escalation zone started its activities in Amman on August 23

© AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

AMMAN, September 11./TASS/. Russia and Jordan have agreed on consultations in a three-party format with the US on the southern de-escalation zone in Syria, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday after talks with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al Safadi.

"We discussed the situation related to the setting up of a de-escalation zone in the southwest of Syria in line with the initiatives put forward within the framework of the Astana format," the foreign minister said. "This southern zone was coordinated within the framework of teamwork of Russia, Jordan and the US, and we spoke in favor of settling issues of its maximally efficient functioning in a three-party format, and agreed on upcoming contacts to this respect," the diplomat said.

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Documents on Syria’s fourth de-escalation zone to be signed at Astana meeting

"We also highly appreciate a bilateral mechanism of cooperation between Russia and the Jordanian side created in the capital of Jordan," Lavrov added.

Russia and the United States agreed to create a de-escalation zone in the south of Syria at 12.00 Damascus time on July 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on July 7 after the talks of Russian and US Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

"A ceasefire will come into force in that zone (Syria’s south - Daraa and Quneitra) at 12.00 Damascus time on July 9," he said.

The Jordanian side hopes that all de-escalation zones will be established in Syria as soon as possible, Al Safadi said.

"We appreciate the cooperation between Russia and Jordan in southern Syria. As you know we are partners here, in the trilateral format with the United States," he said. "Hopefully, all de-escalation zones will be established (in Syria - TASS) as soon as possible," he added.

"We assume that we need progress here, which will be part of settlement. We in Jordan want a ceasefire all over Syria, and want to move towards a peaceful settlement in order to open up a new page for the Syrian people," the minister said.

According to Ayman Al Safadi, the ceasefire agreement for Syria is "the biggest success compared with all deals in the past."

He also said that the talks with Sergey Lavrov focused on the common "obligation to tackle terrorism." "We implement and coordinate this responsibility, and I’m very glad that there are international efforts to fight terrorism. We consider it necessary to defeat all forms of terrorism both in military and ideological terms," he said.

The joint monitoring center for the southern Syrian de-escalation zone started its activities in Amman on August 23. The center is tasked to control the ceasefire in the southern de-escalation zone, as well as to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to the area and the provision of medical and other assistance to local residents.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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