ANKARA (Sputnik) — Erdogan added that diplomatic efforts had already contributed to the thaw in relations between Ankara and Moscow.
"We will face a very intense period in 2017. Along with Russia and Iran we have prepared in Moscow a platform for the [settlement] process in Astana. The ongoing truce, despite its violations, opens a big window of opportunity and we hope that we will be able to settle the crisis in Syria by political means, we are making every effort to reach this goal," Erdogan said.
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria was brokered by Russia and Turkey and later approved by the United Nations. The ceasefire deal in Syria has been in effect since December 30. The truce is expected to be followed by peace talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana later this month.
