Possibility Of Truce In Idlib Depends On Moscow's Influence On Damascus - Berlin

The chances of achieving a truce in Syria's northwestern Idlib province depend on Russia, since Moscow is capable of steering Damascus away from further escalation in order to avoid a humanitarian disaster in this area, the German government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Wednesday.

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th September, 2018) The chances of achieving a truce in Syria's northwestern Idlib province depend on Russia, since Moscow is capable of steering Damascus away from further escalation in order to avoid a humanitarian disaster in this area, the German government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Wednesday.

"It is important to emphasize that Russia and Iran bear a special responsibility [for the situation in Syria] as the parties to the conflict. Russia has influence over the Syrian regime, which is necessary for discouraging this regime from escalation for the sake of avoiding a humanitarian disaster. The current state of affairs is that the chances for the truce are either real or not, depending on Russia's position," Seibert told a press briefing.

One of Syria's de-escalation zones covers Idlib, which remains a stronghold of terrorist insurgency in the country.

Under the ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government troops and armed opposition, military activities in the area are prohibited. However, multiple ceasefire violations continue to be recorded in Idlib.

The offensive to recapture Idlib from terrorists, currently being weighed by the Syrian authorities and the Russian forces supporting them, has raised fears of western countries about a possible humanitarian catastrophe in this area.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov has said that the Idlib operation was being developed thoroughly and secretly, with humanitarian aspects taken into account.