Syrian Warrior Rejects Proposed Russian Safe Zone

ASTANA - Syrian armed opposition group rejects Russia's plan to create a safe zone. The plan is perceived as a threat to the territorial integrity of the country. The opposition also said it would not recognize Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

"We want Syria to maintain its integrity," said opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum to create a safe zone. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, aimed at ending the Syrian battle.

"We are against the division of Syria," said Abu Zaid. "We are not a party to the deal and of course we will never support it as long as Iran is called as a guarantor country," Abu Zaid told Reuters on Friday (5/5/2017).

He also mentions what he calls the "big gap" between Russia's promises. Russia intervened militarily in 2015 to defend Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and give him control over the conflict.

"We already have an agreement in our hands, why not implemented? Why are we now jumping into the safe zone?" He said, referring to a ceasefire agreement announced by Russia in December largely ignored in the field.

"Russia can not or does not want to implement the promises it makes, and this is a fundamental issue," he explained.