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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan ended talks in Moscow
The press service of the President of Russia
At the final press conference the Russian leader said that Moscow and Ankara have agreed on the document on settlement of the situation in Syria. The agreement includes three points: the ceasefire, the creation of a “security corridor” in Idlib, and the Russian-Turkish patrolling the M4 in the territory of the Republic of
The press service of the President of Russia
At the final press conference the Russian leader said that Moscow and Ankara have agreed on the document on settlement of the situation in Syria. The agreement includes three points: the ceasefire, the creation of a “security corridor” in Idlib, and the Russian-Turkish patrolling the M4 in the territory of the Republic of
The press service of the President of Russia
At the final press conference the Russian leader said that Moscow and Ankara have agreed on the document on settlement of the situation in Syria. The agreement includes three points: the ceasefire, the creation of a “security corridor” in Idlib, and the Russian-Turkish patrolling the M4 in the territory of the Republic of
The press service of the President of Russia
Putin stressed that Russia proceeds from the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. He also thanked Erdogan for the fact that he arrived at the talks in Moscow, and noted that the agreements reached with President of Turkey the agreement will be a good basis for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the Islamic Republic
The press service of the President of Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has completed talks in Moscow. At the final press conference the Russian leader said that Moscow and Ankara have agreed on the document on settlement of the situation in Syria. The agreement includes three points: the ceasefire, the creation of a “security corridor” in Idlib, and the Russian-Turkish patrolling the M4 in the territory of the Republic. Reported by the Daily Storm.
“We don’t always agree with our Turkish partners in assessing what is happening in Syria, but we always managed to find common ground, as happened this time”, – told reporters the Russian leader.
Putin stressed that Russia proceeds from the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. He also thanked Erdogan for the fact that he arrived at the talks in Moscow, and noted that the agreements reached with President of Turkey the agreement will be a good basis for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the Islamic Republic.
According to Putin, bands in the region of Idlib is so increased its activity that it took a personal conversation between two presidents. The President of Russia expressed his condolences over the death of Turkish soldiers in Syria. “Unfortunately, as I already told you in a telephone conversation, no one, including Syrian soldiers, did not know about their whereabouts, said the Russian leader. – During this time, unfortunately, and Syrian soldiers have suffered: the Syrian army has serious losses”. He said that it is necessary to discuss the whole situation that it was not repeated and did not damage Russian-Turkish relations.
Erdogan said that the attack of the Syrian government troops in Idlib violated the agreement that was signed in Sochi. “Turkey will not sit idly by and reserves the right to respond to every attack by the Syrian regime on their own”, – said the Turkish leader, vowing that Ankara is “committed to assist Syrian refugees in returning home.”
Turkish President also said that on March 6, you would enter a ceasefire, and invited Putin to Ankara in connection with the 100 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. According to Erdogan, “the spirit of cooperation between Turkey and Russia has made an unprecedented contribution to international efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict.”
The Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov said that “security corridor” in Idlib will be six kilometers North and South of the Syrian M4 highway. Since March 15, the Russian and the Turkish military will jointly patrol the road.
The United States endorsed the agreement on Idlib
The United States welcomed the results of negotiations in Moscow of the presidents of Turkey and Russia. This was stated on Thursday to the correspondent of TASS, the official representative of US state Department.
“We welcome today’s reports about the agreement between Turkey and Russia for the ceasefire in Idlib. We hope that they will help de-escalate the extremely dangerous situation and to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis,” he said.
The United States is “looking forward to discuss the details of the developments with its NATO ally Turkey, which strives for a lasting ceasefire”. It is extremely important now is what action will take in the area of fighting [Syrian President Bashar] Assad and those who support it. It will tell if a lasting ceasefire is reached,” added the spokesman.
He stressed that the only way to solve the conflict is through “the establishment of a ceasefire throughout the country and a political solution through negotiations in accordance with UN security Council resolution 2254”.
The Memorandum, according to which the Idlib province became one of the four areas of de-escalation in Syria, was signed by Russia, Turkey and Iran in may 2017. In September 2018 in Sochi the presidents of Russia and Turkey have agreed to establish in this province the demilitarized zone depth of 15-20 km along the line of contact between Syrian government forces and armed opposition. By the end of 2019 Idlib was the last province in Syria, which has remained strong armed opposition groups.
In December 2019, the Syrian army launched an offensive, trying to take Idlib under control. In fierce fighting gradually began to get involved Turkish military supporting the Syrian opposition, and the Russian army, serving as an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
27 Feb 2020 opposition armed groups launched a counter-offensive in Idlib, attacking the positions of Syrian government forces. Support the defenders with air had not only the Syrian and Russian aircraft.
As a result of air strikes killed 34 soldiers of the Turkish army, and injuring more than 30 people. In Ankara, said that the dead soldiers were at the observation post. However, the defense Ministry assured that the Turkish military were “in combat formations of the advancing terrorists.” The defense Ministry also assured that the aircraft HQs in the area was not used.
March 4, official representative of Russian defense Ministry major General Igor Konashenkov said, and all that happened in Idlib “splicing” the territory controlled by fighters from Turkish observation posts. He also noted that only Russia with its actions helps to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. “In the context of total cynicism and false concerns of the West the humanitarian situation in the zone of de-escalation of Idlib, the only Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties and the legitimate Syrian government daily in the liberated areas with all the necessary assistance to local residents,” – said Konashenkov.
In UN, NATO and the United States criticized Russia for its policy in Syria. The report of the UN Commission on Syria even laid on Russia responsible for war crimes. According to international experts, the attacks of the Russian and Syrian military are exposed to hospitals, and places where civilians. As a result, in Idlib province civil liberties are at stake, including children who reside in areas under the control of the opposition “Democratic forces of Syria.”
The head of the military of NATO Jens Stoltenberg condemned the “indiscriminate air strikes of the Syrian regime and its patron Russia” in Idlib, and called on them “to halt the offensive, to respect international law”. A us Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged the President of the United States Donald trump to intervene in Syria. “The world sits idly by and watches the destruction of Idlib, Assad, Iran and the Russians,” said Graham.
Later in the United States promised to provide Turkey with military aid, providing her with ammunition for the fighting in Syria.
The escalation in Idlib led to unprecedented over the entire period of the civil war in Syria, the wave of migration. To the border with Turkey rushed over 950 thousand refugees, mostly women and children. The immigration crisis threatens the European Union, which urgently takes action to resolve it.