Iran , Russia and Turkey agreed to launch a three-way mechanism to ensure compliance with the Syrian cease-fire as talks on the conflict concluded Tuesday in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov read out a statement at the end of Tuesday’s session saying that the delegations of Iran, Russia and Turkey decided to \u201cestablish a trilateral mechanism to observe and ensure full compliance with the cease-fire, prevent any provocations and determine all modalities of the cease-fire.\u201d He added that the three countries will also continue joint efforts to fight ISIS and the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat Fath al-Sham group, formerly the Nusra Front .
The statement did not specify how the mechanism would work to monitor the cease-fire that began Dec. 30. The agreement is not likely to make a real difference on the ground, said Haid Haid, an associate fellow specializing in the Middle East at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a policy institute based in London.
\u201cAs long as there are no independent observers and no clear mechanisms to hold those who are violating the cease-fire accountable, we will continue to see cease-fires violated by the parties,\u201d he told ABC News. \u201cThe shaky, ongoing cease-fire has been violated for weeks now, and nothing has been done to stop the perpetrators. This will only give a green light to those perpetrators to continue their violations which in the end will end the cease-fire.\u201d
The two-day meeting between Syrian government officials and rebel fighters had a rough start on Monday.
Speaking to the press, Bashar al-Jaafari, the chief negotiator for the Syrian government, described the rebel delegation as \u201carmed terrorist groups\u201d and called the opening remarks by Mohammad Alloush, the lead rebel negotiator «provocative. «
The negotiations in Astana were brokered by Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia and Iran, allies of the Syrian government.
A new round of Syria peace talks is to take place in Geneva on Feb. 8.
The Syrian war has so far gone on nearly six years, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions.
In a speech in Finland on Tuesday, the United Nations ‘ humanitarian chief Stephen O\u2019Brien asked for $3.4 billion in funding for an aid plan for some 13.5 million people in urgent need of aid in Syria. Approximately 6.3 million people are internally displaced across Syria, and more than 640,000 people live under siege, he said.
\u201cSyria is one of the largest protection crises of our times,\u201d he said. \u201cBeyond the indiscriminate and targeted attacks against civilians themselves, the essentials of civilian life such as hospitals, schools, markets, electricity and water networks have also not been spared in this conflict.\u201c<\/p>\n

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