The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Sergei Lavrov, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, respectively, on Tuesday discussed Syria peace efforts over a videoconference in the format of the so-called Astana talks.
The three countries are part of the Astana process, which is designed to support a diplomatic solution to Syria’s 10-year civil war.
“We have discussed the latest developments in Idlib and East of Euphrates as well as the political process, humanitarian situation and the return of refugees”, Cavusoglu tweeted. He added that “the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic was discussed in the context of Syria”.
On March 5, Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria’s war, agreed a ceasefire in Idlib, after an escalation in violence. In addition to stopping the fighting, the ceasefire deal called for pushing militants out of a buffer zone on either side of Idlib’s key M4 highway that runs through rebel territory. Turkey and Russia started joint patrols along the road from March 15.
The Astana talks included the most recent situation in Idlib, Syria’s Constitutional Committee, the necessity for the removal of the unilateral sanctions, particularly given the outbreak of the coronavirus, humanitarian conditions, and return of the displaced persons.
According to the United Nations, the number of internally displaced people from northwestern Syria is 2,866,471, out of the total regional population of 4,291,884.
