UN in talks about Syria safe zones

Russia, Iran and Turkey all involved in the discussions

GENEVA // The United Nations said yesterday it was in talks with Iran, Russia and Turkey over who should control proposed safe zones in Syria, a key question after Damascus rejected any international monitors.

The UN’s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, and humanitarian taskforce chairman Jan Egeland said it was premature to rule out any scenario.

“I met three Astana signatories,” Mr Egeland said, referring to Kazakhstan’s capital where the safe zones pact was signed by regime supporters Russia and Iran and opposition supporter Turkey.

“What they say is that we now sit down and agree, they will agree with our input on who should be controlling security and monitoring,” he said.

Forces from the three countries were one option for monitoring, as were third parties, he said.

Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem rejected any UN role in monitoring the designated areas.

The May 4 agreement calls for the creation of four “de-escalation zones” to shore up a ceasefire, ban flights and allow for deliveries of humanitarian aid.

Also yesterday, the leader of Hizbollah said the group was pulling back from positions along Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria after securing it. “The mission is accomplished,” Hassan Nasrallah said to thousands of his supporters, claiming the area was now the “responsibility of the state”.