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Iran, Russia and Turkey work to reduce tensions in Syria

29 September 2017 17:36 (UTC+04:00)
Iran, Russia and Turkey work to reduce tensions in Syria

By Kamila Aliyeva

Moscow, Tehran and Ankara maintain regular contacts aiming to reduce political and military tensions in Syria.

Despite the large-scale efforts of hardliners in Syria to violate the agreements reached in the international arena in Astana and the resumption of hostilities, the situation in the country is stable, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova said, IRNA reported.

Peace guarantors in Syria- Russia, Turkey and Iran- are constantly in contact to coordinate efforts to reduce tensions related to the actions of the An-Nusra terrorists, according to the official.

"To prevent threats and new provocative measures, Russian aerospace objects were used to stop terrorist operations in Syria and to inflict a heavy blow," she said, noting that successful efforts are being taken and terrorists are suffering great losses.

The Russian official also called on all countries to establish real coordination and cooperation against terrorists in order to achieve cooperation for a diplomatic settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254.

"Moscow is ready for such a move and has repeatedly proved its claims," Zakharova added.

She also urged the relevant parties to help in restoring the civilian infrastructure in the country and to prepare the grounds for the return of refugees and IDPs.

To date, six rounds of negotiations on the ongoing Syrian conflict were held in Astana.

Guarantors of a nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime - Russia, Turkey and Iran - had agreed on May 4 in the Kazakh capital, Astana, to establish "de-escalation zones" in war-torn Syria. The zones would cover the city of Idlib and certain parts of Latakia, Homs, Aleppo and Hama as well as Damascus, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa and Quneitra.

The establishment of the fourth one in Idlib province was the spotlight of the sixth meeting on Syria in Astana and Putin-Erdogan recent talks.

While the Astana process is separate from the UN’s Geneva talks on Syrian crisis, the attendance of the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura links the Kazakh platform to broader international efforts.

Syria has been locked in civil war since March 2011. According to UN's special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, around 400,000 people have died in the conflict while half the population has been driven from their homes.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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