UN special envoy for Syria said the implementation of the de-escalation zones deal in Syria could have a positive effect on at least 2.6 million people.
"When you talk about four of the de-escalation areas, this has the potential of affecting hopefully positively from a humanitarian point of view, at least 2.6 million people," UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said at a briefing in Geneva, RIA Novosti reported.
The May round of the Astana talks resulted in a memorandum signed by the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states (Russia, Iran, Turkey) aimed at creation of four zones of de-escalation in Syria, which include the province of Idlib and seven other regions. Any clashes between the government forces and opposition armed groups must stop within the zones.
De Mistura confirmed that the next round of "businesslike" intra-Syrian talks in Geneva will be held on May 16 with a target end date of May 19.He said the talks aimed to "hit the iron while it’s hot" following the May 3-4 Astana talks attended by the UN. 
"There have been some outcomes which we find extremely potentially promising," de Mistura said, referring to the ceasefire and de-escalation zones memorandum signed by guarantors Russia, Turkey and Iran in the Kazakh capital. 

Source: QNA