UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, pushes 'freeze zone' in Syria talks. Syria has consistently rejected a Turkish-backed plan for buffer or "safe zones"

The UN peace envoy for Syria met officials in Damascus Sunday to push his efforts to set up "freeze zones" to suspend fighting in some areas, state news agency SANA reported.

Envoy Staffan De Mistura held "constructive" talks with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on the plans for "freeze zones" in areas including the battered northern city of Aleppo, SANA said.

"The dialogue focused on the results of De Mistura's trips to several capitals, as well as on his proposal to the UN Security Council... regarding the establishment of a local freeze zone in Aleppo," it said.

It was De Mistura's second visit to Syria since he was appointed peace envoy in July, replacing Lakhdar Brahimi.

On October 30, De Mistura presented an "action plan" for Syria that proposed to "freeze" fighting in local areas to allow for aid deliveries and to lay the groundwork for peace talks.

De Mistura presented his plan after visiting key Damascus backer Russia.
 

• Syria has consistently rejected a Turkish-backed plan for buffer or "safe zones" on its territory.

AFP
[english.ahram.org.eg]
9/11/14
--
-
Related:

• Fearing U.S. air strikes, Syria asks for Russian S300

• Smugglers Offer Cheap Passage From Turkey to Syria

----
Related:

• U.N. envoy calls on Turkey to prevent Srebrenica-style massacre in Kobani

• De Mistura: Security Response Not Enough to Deal With ISIS, Need for Political Process