World

Turkey Wants Russia, Iran to Prevent Terrorist Corridor on Syrian Border

Turkey expects assistance from its partners on Astana format talks - Russia and Iran - to prevent the emergence of a terrorist corridor on the Syrian-Turkish border, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday at a press conference following three-party talks with his Russian and Iranian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani.
Sputnik

"Turkey will in no way allow the formation of a terrorist corridor on its southern borders. In this regard, we expect support from our Astana partners," Erdogan said.

Talks on Syria at the Russia-Turkey-Iran summit in Sochi were constructive and thorough, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"We completed very thorough talks on Syria. They were held in a constructive and businesslike manner. I note that our meetings in a trilateral format have become regular. Today we held the fourth summit. Such close coordination allows us to effectively carry out work aimed at achieving long-term normalization in the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin said following the summit.

READ MORE: Syrian Crisis Settlement Should Include Foreign Forces' Pullout — Iranian FM

"Jointly with the partners, we identified key areas for further cooperation in resolving the Syrian crisis. The agreements reached on this issue were reflected in the final joint statement," he said.

On US Pullout From Syria

Iranian President Lauds US Troop Pullout From Syria 'If It's True'
The announced US troops withdrawal from Syria would be a positive step, while the control over the vacated territories should pass to the Damascus authorities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said following the Astana-format summit on Syria on Thursday.

"During the talks, the parties discussed how the announced US plans to withdraw American troops from the northeastern regions of the country will affect the further development of the situation in Syria. In our opinion, the implementation of such steps would be a positive step, would help stabilize the situation in this region of Syria, where ultimately the control of the legitimate government must be restored," Putin said at a joint news conference.

The Russian president expressed hope that the US troops withdrawal from Syria will, indeed, take place.

On Syrian Constitutional Committee

Russia, Iran and Turkey will assist the speedy launch of the constitutional committee in Syria, which is designed to address the fundamental aspects of the future state system in the republic, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday following the summit on Syria in Sochi.

"We agreed to promote by joint efforts the soonest possible launch of the constitutional committee, which is designed to address the fundamental aspects of the future state structure of the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin said after the talks.

He said Russia, Iran and Turkey had actively worked on the issue and achieved progress.

Follow Sputnik's Feed to Find Out More!

Discuss