Jordan, partners sign de-escalation agreement

AMMAN — Jordan, the US and Russia have signed a deal they reached in the summer to establish a de-escalation zone in southern Syria, a senior official said Saturday.  

Representatives of the three countries signed a statement of principles in Amman, said Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani, who described the agreement as an important step under the trilateral efforts to stop violence in Syria and create the proper conditions for a sustainable political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Momani, who is also the government spokesman, added that the de-escalation zone supports the arrangements that the three countries agreed on on July 7 to support the ceasefire along the confrontation lines in southwestern Syria, which went into effect on July 9.

The three countries began talks, at Jordan’s initiative, in May that lead to an agreement to support the July ceasefire and de-escalation agreement, according to Petra.

Amman, Washington and Moscow agreed in July that supporting the ceasefire is a step towards a permanent de-escalation in southern Syria, the restoration of stability and allowing access of humanitarian aid into the area.