The United States gave an extremely cautious welcome on Thursday to the deal on Syria de-escalation zones.
Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday signed a pact on a Moscow-backed plan to create de-escalation zones in Syria meant to halt fighting in the war-torn country.
The United States, which has supported Syria armed opposition, sent observers to the Astana talks, but was not a party to the agreement.
“We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called ‘guarantor’,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.
“Iran’s activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Iran’s unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians.”
But Nauert said that Washington “appreciated the efforts” of the other guarantors — Russia and Turkey — to defuse the situation.
“We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict,” she said.
“We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Russian Federation on efforts to that can responsibly end the Syria conflict.”
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov next week on the sidelines of the Arctic Council in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Source: AFP
