FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Russia, Turkey, Iran Talks Focus on Creating a De-escalation Zone in Syria’s Idlib

Feb. 14, 2019 (EIRNS)—Following today’s three-way talks among Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, host President Putin stated that,

“Let me note that the Iranian and Turkish colleagues are ready to work as a team with an aim of finally defusing tensions and stabilizing Idlib. We have agreed to take additional steps in this respect,”

TASS reported. He also announced that a Syrian constitutional committee will be formed soon. The three are the guarantor states for Syria’s ceasefire, known as the Astana Process.

“These meetings,” Putin explained,

“have facilitated progress in improving the situation in Syria. A ceasefire is in place almost throughout the entire country, which means that the level of violence has declined. It is a specific joint measure and undoubtedly a positive result.”

He also suggested that Russia, Turkey and Iran will be taking “concrete practical steps for the complete elimination of this hotbed of terrorism.”

Following the meeting, the three parties issued a 17-point statement. One of the points stated that the

“U.S. decision on the withdrawal of its forces from Syria, if implemented, would be a step that would help strengthen stability and security in the country in compliance with the above-mentioned principles.”

This is the fourth summit of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process on Syria. The first meeting of the Astana trio was in Sochi on Nov. 22, 2017.

The Russian delegation to the Feb. 14 talks included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, among others. Among the Turkish delegation were President Erdogan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. The Iranian delegation included President Rouhani, Chief of Staff for the Iranian Armed Forces Gen. Mohammad Bagheri and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.