No military solution to the Syrian conflict; tripartite statement
A tripartite statement resolved that Astana format had been the only effective international initiative that had helped reduce violence across Syria and had contributed to peace and stability in Syria, giving impetus to the Geneva process in order to find a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict.
The joint statement was issued after the tripartite meeting between the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and the host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ankara.
The leaders reaffirmed their determination to continue their active cooperation on Syria for the achievement of the lasting ceasefire between the conflicting parties and advancement of the political process envisaged by the UN Security Council Resolution.
They rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism and expressed their determination to stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as the national security of neighboring countries.
They expressed their conviction that the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, which was convened in Sochi on 30 January 2018, constituted an important milestone in paving the way for the political process. The presidents expressed their conviction that there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict and that the conflict could be ended only through a negotiated political process.
Türkiye-Rusya-İran üçlü zirvesi Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesinde toplandı https://t.co/VbwFuryPc3 pic.twitter.com/8z3NbJDzci— T.C.Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) April 4, 2018
Joint News Conference
The presidents of Russia, Iran, and Turkey held a joint news conference following the tripartite meeting.
Vladimir Putin said the Joint Statement emphasizes the firm resolve of Russia, Iran, and Turkey to help strengthen the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, as my colleagues have said.
"This position of principle is much needed today, considering the growing number of attempts to deepen ethnic and religious differences in Syrian society in order to break up the country and to preserve the conflict potential of the Middle East for years to come. We have agreed to expand the entire range of our trilateral cooperation in Syria, primarily within the framework of the Astana process, which has proved its effectiveness more than once", Mr. Putin added.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in the last few years our region has been facing the very serious crisis that is called terrorism.
"Regrettably, these terrorists are supported by some Western countries. Certain states are funding them and equipping them with new weapons. These are the same terrorists that produced and sold Syrian oil, and destroyed Syrian museums and, unfortunately, freely sold the artefacts they found in these museums."
"It is highly regrettably but some superpowers, including the United States, would like to use the terrorist groups of DAISH and Jabhat al-Nusra as an instrument of controlling this region", he added.
Earlier, Mr. Erdogan while welcoming the presidents of Russia and Iran had said, "We hope that the entire world will pay attention to one point with regard to Syria. We believe that ensuring the territorial security and territorial integrity of Syria depends on whether we treat all terrorist organizations on an equal footing."
He said, "As guarantor countries, we must ensure Syria’s territorial integrity and stop the bloodshed. The guarantor states have agreed on that for the sake of Syria’s new future. As a result of this crisis and these clashes, the people of Syria and the countries in the region are the losers. And we all know who the winners are."
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