All parties to the ongoing conflict in Syria must implement a joint Russia-Turkey agreement establishing a demilitarized buffer zone in the province of Idlib, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a press conference on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) All parties to the ongoing conflict in Syria must implement a joint Russia-Turkey agreement establishing a demilitarized buffer zone in the province of Idlib, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a press conference on Thursday.
"I call on all the parties to implement the agreement with the strong commitment to protection of civilians and to ensure humanitarian access," Guterres told reporters.
He added that the countries which are active in the region should support the work of UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura and make concrete steps in line with the Geneva peace process.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to set up a demilitarized zone in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib by October 15. Russian military police and Turkish forces will be patrolling the demilitarized zone along the contact line between the armed opposition and the government troops. All heavy weaponry operated by rebel groups must be pulled out of the demilitarized zone by October 10, the agreement stipulates.
Earlier this week, Guterres welcomed the agreement reached by Russia and Turkey. He added that the creation of a buffer zone in Idlib could save 3 million civilian lives, including children, and thus fulfill a top priority for the United Nations.
