Russia ready to work with Saudi Arabia, US on Syria

The head of Russia’s delegation to the Syrian peace talks in Astana, Alexander Lavrentiev, said on Thursday that his country is ready to work with Saudi Arabia and the United State regarding Syria.

According to Masr Alarabia, Reuters reported Lavrentiev saying: “Unfortunately, the Americans are still ignoring our attempts to establish closer military cooperation but we will keep trying.”

After a new round of Syria peace talks held in the Kazakh capital Astana, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed a memorandum on creating safe zones in Syria. The agreement made on Thursday designated four “de-escalation zones” in northern, central and southern Syria.

Lavrentiev said the agreement would go into effect on Saturday and Syrian air forces were expected to cease their flights over the areas.

The Syrian opposition rejected the Russian plan to create safe zones, calling it a threat to the Syria’s territorial integrity. Opposition delegates also said they would not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

“We want Syria to maintain its integrity,” opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid told Reuters. “We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favour (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state.”