Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Sochi, SANA – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin affirmed the need to preserve the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria in order to guarantee the progress in the political process.
In a joint press conference with the Turkish regime President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Putin said that the crisis in Syria can only be solved through political means, adding that “to let the political process go on, ceasefire must be guaranteed.”
“One of the ways to consolidate the cessation of hostilities in Syria is the establishment of de-escalation zones,” said Putin, noting to his phone conversation with the US President Donald Trump yesterday with the latter expressing Washington’s support for these ideas.”
Putin added that Russia held preliminary consultations on the issue with the Syrian government and Iran where stress laid on the necessity of setting up mechanisms which would guarantee the cessation of bloodshed and form the basis for beginning a political dialogue.
Putin considered that “the Turkish official stances is identical with the Russian attitude in this regard,”
“We proceed from the fact, that the crisis’ direct participants, who gathered for talks today in Astana, will make a final decision, since in the end the fate of their country depends solely on them,” Putin added.
The Russian president also said that Russia, Turkey and Iran as the guarantors of ceasefire, would do everything possible to make such mechanisms effective and constantly developing.
He pointed out that the main objective of the political process in Syria is to maintain the territorial integrity of Syria and bolster the unified government in the country, adding that these mechanisms are determined by the Syrian people through dialogue.
“Regarding terrorists, in spite of the creation of that zone, the war on terror will be ongoing – against such organizations as the so-called ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other ones that are classified on the list of terrorist organizations approved by the United Nations,” Putin said.
He indicated that the talks discussed the struggle against international terrorism and the situation in the Middle East.
For his part, the Turkish regime president considered that the cessation of hostilities that was sponsored by Russia, Iran, and Turkey is a great opportunity to reach a solution to the crisis in Syria
He indicated that “the positions of Turkey and Russia are identical regarding the need for a political solution to the crisis in Syria and priority should be given to Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity, as well as fighting terrorist organizations and putting an end to the proxy war in the country.”
R.Raslan/Mazen
