Russia and Turkey Agree on Establishing 'Safe Zones' in Syria

Russia and Turkey have announced an agreement to establish 'safe zones' in war-torn areas of Syria. According to the Russian President, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has also firmly supported this plan. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, expressed hope during their meeting on Wednesday, May 2, in Sochi, Russia, that the Syrian government and opposition rebels would accept this plan with the aim of 'reducing the crisis.' According to the Associated Press, Mr. Putin stated during this meeting that if the conflicting parties adhere to the new plan and completely cease ground battles, Russian and Syrian warplanes will stop flying over the designated safe zones. The French news agency reported that it has seen the Arabic version of this plan, which states that safe zones will be established in four areas of Syria controlled by opposition forces. These areas include Idlib province, Homs province, Eastern Ghouta around Damascus, and southern Syria. The goal of establishing these zones is to 'immediately end the violence' and 'provide conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees' to their places of residence. Russia has been conducting air operations in Syria in support of the Bashar al-Assad government for nearly two years. However, Turkey supports the Syrian opposition and has stationed its military forces in parts of Syria. The support of the countries involved in the Syrian crisis for the establishment of safe zones comes at a time when the opposition forces have suspended their participation in the Astana peace talks. The opposition claims that the decision to suspend negotiations was made in response to the continued airstrikes by the Syrian army. During six years of civil war and crisis in Syria, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and injured, and millions more have been displaced. Iran and Russia have been the main supporters of the Syrian government in this war, providing financial and military assistance to Bashar al-Assad's regime.