LATAKIA (Syria) (Sputnik) — The general's address aired by the Syrian state television was the first public speech by a member of Russia's Syrian reconciliation center since it was set up in Latakia in February last year. In his speech, Kuralenko called on Syrians to fight together against terrorism.
"Russia is supporting the policy of national reconciliation in Syria. The dialogue between the opposition and the lawful government as part of the deals on de-escalation zones have given Syrians hope that violence in Syria will stop. The reinstallment of local authorities in the inhabited areas included in the de-escalation zones will be the next stage of the national reconciliation," Kuralenko said Thursday.
Russia, Turkey and Iran, the guarantor states of Syrian ceasefire, signed a memorandum last May to create four zones of de-escalation in Syria. Three zones in southern Syria and in Eastern Ghouta are already operational, and talks are underway to establish a fourth one in the Idlib province.
