Russia, Turkey, Iran Sign Memorandum Establishing De-Escalation Zones in Syria

[LarryW]

Now the Madison Avenue battalions (where are they in Moscow, I wonder) are going to start pumping out the good news that peace has finally come to the ME. What do you want to bet the "de-escalation areas" will provide potential no-fly zones and include any other place where the truth hurts. In the meantime, if you're a Kurd, or a part of the "opposition", or a Christian, or in country trying to get rid of ISIS you'd better prepare yourself. Of course, this could all just be geo-political coffeeshop crap. Things are going to get curiouser and curiouser.

Russia, Turkey, Iran Sign Memorandum Establishing De-Escalation Zones in Syria

According to the document, Russia proposed to set up security zones in the Idlib province, to the north of the city of Homs, in Eastern Ghouta and in the south of Syria.

The guarantor states of the Syrian ceasefire under the project of creating zones of de-escalation vowed to create a working group for its implementation within five days after signing the relevant memorandum, according to the signed document obtained by Sputnik on Thursday

"Guarantors within five days after signing the memorandum will create a working group at the level of authorized representatives to determine the boundaries of disarmament, areas of tension and security areas, as well as to address technical issues related to the implementation of the memorandum," the text reads.

The preparation of the necessary maps of the "areas of tension and de-escalation areas" will be complete by May 22.

The memorandum envisages safe areas along the zones' borders to prevent direct fire between the warring sides: "Along the borders of the de-escalation zones, it is envisaged to create safe areas to prevent incidents and direct clashes between the warring parties."

The signing ceremony was interrupted by some members of the Syrian opposition who expressed their protest, some of them left the hall, according to Sputnik reporter.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during the joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the two leaders, as well as the US President Trump, discussed the establishment of safe zones or de-escalation zones in Syria. "[It is] one of the ways to consolidate the ceasefire regime," Putin said.

Later that day, Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it supports the Russian proposal on de-escalation zones.

(more)

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201705041053273529-de-escalation-zones-syria-signed/

[Badger52]

From the companion article (RE Putin/Erdogan safe-zone requirements) this:

Erdogan then said that Turkey will not allow the formation of units threatening its national security on the border with Syria: "The eradication of terrorist organizations is our common responsibility. We will not allow the formation on our southern borders of enemy units that will threaten our territorial integrity and the security of our country."

Translation: If it looks, smells or quacks like a Kurd, my aircraft are already inbound & cleared hot.

[LarryW]

Well, surprise, surprise! Guess the devil is in the details.

US dismisses Russia’s ban on military aircraft over Syria safe zones

A State Department official on Friday said that the Russian proposal calling to bar U.S. military aircrafts from flying over designated safe zones cannot “limit” the U.S.’s mission against ISIS in the country in any way.

“The coalition will continue to strike ISIS targets in Syria,” the official told The Wall Street Journal. “The campaign to defeat ISIS will continue at the same relentless pace as it is proceeding now.”

A deal hammered out by Russia, Turkey and Iran to set up "de-escalation zones" in mostly opposition-held parts of Syria went into effect Saturday.

The plan is the latest international attempt to reduce violence in the war-ravaged country, and is the first to envisage armed foreign monitors on the ground in Syria. The United States is not party to the agreement and the Syrian rivals have not signed on to the deal. The armed opposition, instead, was highly critical of the proposal, saying it lacks legitimacy.

The plan, details of which will still be worked out over the next several weeks, went into effect at midnight Friday. There were limited reports of bombing in northern Homs and Hama, two areas expected to be part of the "de-escalation zones," activists said. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

It is not clear how the cease-fire or "de-escalation zones" will be enforced in areas still to be determined in maps to emerge a month from now.

Russian officials said it will be at least another month until the details are worked out and the safe areas established.

In the tangled mess that constitutes Syria's battlefields, there is much that can go wrong with the plan, agreed on in talks Thursday in Kazakhstan.

There is no clear mechanism to resolve conflict and violations— like most other previous deals struck by backers of the warring sides.

A potential complication to implementing the plan is the crowded airspace over Syria. The deal calls for all aircraft to be banned from flying over the safe zones.

(more)

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/05/06/us-dismisses-russia-s-ban-on-military-aircraft-over-syria-safe-zones.html