Russia worries about cease-fire in 1 Syrian zone
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 12:00 | 06 August 2017
- Modified Date: 04:03 | 06 August 2017
Russia is anticipating difficulties in ensuring a cease-fire in the last of the four safe zones in Syria.
That's what Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (sir-GAY' lahv-RAWF') has said in televised comments after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Manila on Sunday.
Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on a plan in May to establish four "de-escalation" zones in Syria, and they pressed the Syrian air force to halt flights over those areas.
Russia and Iran back Syrian President Bashar Assad. Turkey supports rebels fighting Syrian government forces.
Lavrov says he thinks "it will be difficult" to hammer out the details of the truce around the Syrian town of Idlib. He says Moscow hopes for a compromise to ensure the cease-fire if each country that wields influence in Syria — including the United States — can get the armed groups to comply.