Turkey, Russia, Iran for lasting ceasefire in Syria
CRITICAL SUMMIT Erdogan, Putin, Rouhani say determined to ensure ‘calm on the ground’ ANKARA:
Turkey, Russia and Iran on Wednesday said they were committed to achieving a “lasting ceasefire” in Syria, in a joint statement issued following a summit in Ankara hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
After Erdogan met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for a summit at the presidential palace, the trio reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating for “the achievement of a lasting ceasefire between the conflicting parties”, a joint communique said.
Erdogan, Putin and Rouhani were holding their second summit to discuss Syria’s future since attending a similar meeting in Sochi, Russia, in November.
The leaders also said they were determined to speed up efforts to ensure “calm on the ground” in Syria, and to protect civilians in “de-escalation areas”, according to a joint statement.
Erdogan said that Syria’s territorial integrity depended on maintaining distance from all terrorist organisations, a reference to US support for a Syrian Kurdish militia Ankara considers an enemy.
Erodgan also said that hope for success in Syria was growing stronger.
Talks were also expected to include the issues of border security, the distribution of humanitarian aid and drawing up a constitution for the country.
Russia and Iran have provided crucial support to President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, while Turkey has backed the rebels seeking to overthrow him. The three nations have sponsored several rounds of talks between the Syrian government and the opposition, and brokered local truces in four areas, helping to reduce hostilities.
The leaders locked hands while posing for photos at the start of the meeting, but did not make opening remarks. Earlier, Rouhani held separate bilateral meetings with Putin and Erdogan.
Meanwhile, the Russian military said on Wednesday that it expects a rebel evacuation from the suburbs of the Syrian capital to be completed in the coming days.
The Russian defence ministry and Syrian rebels struck a deal on Sunday for the Army of Islam, the biggest opposition group in the Damascus suburbs of Eastern Ghouta, to leave the area for the rebel-controlled north.
The rebels were still leaving the town of Douma, but the evacuation was expected to wrap up in the coming days, said Col Gen Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff.
Earlier, Russia’s defence ministry said that more than 3,000 rebels and their family members had evacuated Douma since Sunday. The evacuation comes after a blistering five-week government offensive in February and March.