Austrian FM Urges to Create Safe Zones in Syria to Reduce Refugee Influx

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz called for the establishment of so-called safe zones in Syria as a measure to prevent more refugees from arriving in Europe.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — Kurz said a joint international effort was vital to assure Syrians that they no longer needed to seek refuge in Europe.

He called on both the Syrian government and the opposition to commence negotiations.

Syria has been engulfed in civil war since 2011, with the government fighting against opposition factions and militant groups, including ISIL and the Nusra Front. A US-led coalition of some 60 countries has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL positions in Syria since 2014.

"In order to protect civilians on the ground, the establishment of safe zones in Syria is required, in particular by means of an appropriate UN mandate," Kurz told Der Spiegel in an interview published on Friday.

Over 500,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in the European Union since the beginning of 2015, according to the European Commission. According to the International Organization for Migration, almost 40 percent of the refugees arriving in Europe are from Syria.