Serious efforts for applying agreement on de-escalation zones in Syria

In a speech delivered via video conference at a Security Council session on Syria, de Mistrua said that as UN-sponsored political efforts are being exerted, the three guarantor states are working to establish mechanisms for applying the memorandum on de-escalation zones reached during the previous Astana meeting.

The Envoy said that he plans to attend the next Astana meeting due to be held on July 4-5.

He also said that a number of technical steps have been taken prior to the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva scheduled for July 10-14, noting that the previous round launched a technical consultation process that should set the stage for official meetings, noting that the Syrian government was the first to commit to this process.

De Mistura said the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva will discuss the baskets as per its agenda, hoping to reach direct talks between the Syrian government and a "unified opposition,” and called for working to hold another round of talks in late August or early September.