MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Hmeymim group, which unites Syria's internal opposition forces, stands ready to field its candidates for local reconciliation committees if invited to do so, official representative of the group Mais Krydee told Sputnik on Friday.
"I think it is important as a new step toward reconciliation in Syria. We are supporting the process. We will be ready to take part in these committees if invited," Krydee said.
Samir Aita, a member of the Syrian Democratic Forum opposition party, told Sputnik that his party welcomed the idea of establishing local reconciliation committees as long as these bodies comprised "independent and respected" members of both government and opposition, who could help create conditions for the political settlement.
Aita noted that carrying out this plan would present a real challenge.
In May, Iran, Russia and Turkey, the three guarantor states of the Syrian ceasefire regime, signed a memorandum on the establishment of four de-escalation zones at the Syrian settlement talks in Astana. As of today, the guarantor states have managed to reach agreements with opposition groups on creating three zones, with the third agreed upon in late July. The consultations on the fourth safe zone in the Idlib province are ongoing.
Syria has been engulfed in a civil war for over six years with the government troops fighting against numerous opposition factions as well as terrorist groups such as the Daesh and the Jabhat Fatah al Sham, both outlawed in Russia.