Syria Rejects U.N. Monitoring Role in ‘De-Escalation Zones’<br />Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia will meet with his American counterpart, Secretary of State Rex<br />W. Tillerson, in Washington on Wednesday to discuss Syria and other issues, both sides announced on Monday.<br />By RICK GLADSTONEMAY 8, 2017<br />The Syrian government said on Monday that the "de-escalation zones" negotiated by Russia, Iran<br />and Turkey, which took effect this weekend, could not be monitored by others, including the United Nations.<br />Should there be violations, he said, "the Syrian Army will be prepared to respond in a decisive manner." Russia, the main ally of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria<br />and the principal author of the agreement, had suggested when it was announced last week that outside powers could play a monitoring role.<br />The de-escalation zones agreement, reached in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, is regarded as one of the more ambitious diplomatic undertakings by outside powers to halt the war,<br />but it has also raised intense skepticism from insurgents and from some of their supporters, including the United States.<br />But Defense Secretary Jim Mattis appeared to offer a muted expression of support on Monday, telling reporters during a visit to Denmark<br />that the United States would closely examine the agreement.<br />"We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to monitor the agreement," Mr. Moallem told reporters.
