The fight against terrorism in Syria picked up the common language
Astana format will continue, despite the differences in the positions of Russia, Turkey and Iran on such a “sensitive issue” as Idlib. This is the main message of the summit in Tehran. The presidents of the three countries Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hassan Rouhani has called on terrorists to lay down their arms. This wording was a compromise solution in response to the urgent call of President Erdogan to declare during the summit, ceasefire in the Syrian province of Idlib.
Upstairs
After a short but heated discussion concerning the final wording of the final Declaration of the summit in Astana format in Tehran, the presidents of Russia, Turkey and Iran found a compromise and adopted the final Declaration, consisting of 12 points. It emphasizes the intention of the three countries to continue the interaction until the complete eradication of terrorists and the stabilization of the situation in Syria. The main task at this stage, the President of Russia called the expulsion of the terrorists from Idlib — the last of the four zones of de-escalation, which is not yet back under the control of Damascus.
The beginning of military operations in Idlib expected from day to day. “This is a very sad situation… If there is bloodshed, the world will be very mad and the United States is also very angry,” he told reporters ahead of the summit in Tehran, U.S. President Donald trump. With similar appeals to Russia, Turkey and Iran to prevent a new humanitarian disaster in Idlib, where more than 3.5 million people, appealed and other world leaders.
“The Astana trio” agree, as emphasized by President Putin that “when resolution of the situation in Idlib is necessary to keep in mind that there is a large number of civilians.” While in Moscow and Tehran emphasize that you need to put an end to the terrorists “dzhebhat an-Nusra” and “Islamic state” (IG; both organizations are banned in Russia), whose forces are concentrated in this province. Ankara disagrees with that. But it is concerned about the fate of tens of thousands of fighters of the armed opposition, with whom she maintains a close relationship and under whose control was going to leave Idlib.
During the summit, the Turkish President reiterated that the Russian Federation should not be “at the mercy” of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and should remain under the control of the moderate Syrian opposition. However, he promised that will respect the interests of Russia and Iran.