WASHINGTON. May 10 (Interfax) - Russia and the United States have agreed on establishment of de-escalation areas in Syria in the conceptual aspect, Moscow expects that Washington will play an active role in ensuring safety in these areas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We have reached agreement in the conceptual aspect at this stage now and even at a certain extent in the practical field as to what concerns geographical parameters of these de-escalation areas," Lavrov said following the talks in Washington.
"We reaffirmed today that we are interested in the United States to play the most active role in these issues. It seems to me, that Americans are also interested in this; at least, as to the southern de-escalation area, they have an apparent interest. We assume that they will be playing an initiating role in the creation of these areas, in this process," the minister said.
"I hope that as to other territories, which are being discussed, the U.S. will also be able to make their direct contribution in ensuring safety and providing for monitoring over the observance of the regime of cessation of hostilities and a contribution into settling humanitarian problems, because it is one of the functions of de-escalation areas, as well," he also said.
"The memorandum, which was signed in Astana, has set forth further steps, which will imply that interested players will agree on who and how safety will be ensured around these de-escalation areas," Lavrov said.