ASTANA. July 4 (Interfax) - The outlines of two de-escalation areas in Syria have been decided, issues remain over Idlib and the southern area, the Russian president's special representative for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, said.
"Practically, on the second and third areas contact lines and borders have already been determined. There are still questions over Idlib and there are some reservations about the southern area," Lavrentyev told a press conference in Astana on Tuesday.
"But, nevertheless, I think the time is not far off when we will be able to find some compromise solution to these issues. It is how these issues are resolved that will, of course, have bearing on the making of the main decision: to create de-facto de-escalation areas and launch the process of securing a durable ceasefire," Lavrentyev said.
"All of us are striving for this and will be working through the night and tomorrow all day to try and launch this process. Shall we succeed? We all, of course, hope [that we will] " Lavrentyev said.