Ankara to host trilateral summit between Turkey, Russia Iran on Sept. 16
"We will have a trilateral summit with Russia and Iran in Ankara on September 16," Ibrahim Kalın -- Turkey's presidential spokesperson -- said in his remarks, and adding that Turkey is in talks with all concerned parties to reach a solution in war-torn Idlib, adding that joint patrols with U.S. in Syria will start soon.
- World
- Agencies and A News
- Published Date: 07:56 | 21 August 2019
- Modified Date: 08:04 | 21 August 2019
President Erdoğan will hold a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart over Idlib in next couple of days, Turkish presidential aide told reporters on Wednesday.
Kalın also said that Turkey expressed its concerns regarding the Syrian regime's and Russia's attacks on heavily contested Idlib town, which is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster.
"Turkey has also conveyed its concerns to Russia," he added.
On the peace corridor in the northern region of war-torn Syria, Erdoğan aide stressed that the agreement with U.S. on safe zone in northern Syria was positive step.
The fragile cease-fire in northwestern Syria's Idlib is on the verge of crumbling due to the continuous attacks by the Bashar Assad regime and Russia on residential areas, which have caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians and displaced around 400,000 people.
Pushing intense diplomatic efforts since the beginning to give a chance to a political solution and thereby prevent a new humanitarian crisis, Ankara reiterated its call to maintain stability in the region but also warned the regime to refrain from any kind of aggression against Turkish troops.
The joint Turkish-U.S. operation center to establish and manage the safe zone will be fully operational next week, Defense Minister Akar said Friday.
Ankara and Washington have also agreed in general terms about the control and coordination of air space in the region, Akar added.
A six-member U.S. team also arrived at the southeastern province on Aug. 12.
On Aug. 7, Turkish and U.S. military officials agreed to set up a safe zone and develop a peace corridor running from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border to facilitate the return of displaced Syrians currently living in Turkey to their home country and provide security for Turkish border settlements and military outposts.
They also agreed to establish a joint operations center. The agreement envisages the setting up of measures necessary to address Turkey's security concerns.