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News ID: 46619
Publish Date : 19 November 2017 - 21:42

Iran, Russia, Turkey Intensify Talks on Syria


ISTANBUL (Dispatches) -- Top diplomats from Iran, Russia and Turkey met Sunday morning in Antalya to discuss the war in Syria ahead of a three-way summit in the Russian city of Sochi on Wednesday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and Muhammad Javad Zarif of Iran and in the southern Turkish city for the closed-door meeting, an official said.
Speaking after the meeting, Lavrov described the talks as "very useful," adding that the sides "reached agreement on all the key issues," according to Russian news agencies.
"We discussed a series of topics that may arise in the meeting in Sochi, the point of this summit is to address what our success is in regards to Syria and what further measures we must take,” said Cavusoglu during a press conference after the meeting.
Lavrov said the chiefs of the Iranian, Russian, and Turkish armed forces will also hold talks before Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with his counterparts of Iran and Turkey -- Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rohani – in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on November 22.
The meeting will focus on reducing violence in Syria and matters related to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, officials said.
The meeting comes as violence is diminishing in Syria's six-year war although a political solution still seems out of reach.
Moscow, Tehran and Ankara are sponsoring the so-called Astana peace talks, named for the Kazakh capital where they are regularly held, which calls for the creation of "de-escalation" zones in key areas of Syria.
Zarif said coordinated efforts by Iran, Russia and Turkey within the framework of the peace process in Astana have helped reduce violence and establish a ceasefire in Syria.

The talks have also given strength to the Syrian government and resistance forces to continue their battle against Daesh and other terrorist groups with more resolve, he added.
Although Turkey has supported militants looking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's government, it has muted its critiques of the Syrian government, which is backed by Russia and Iran.
According to the Anadolu news agency, Putin and Erdogan have already met five times this year and spoken by telephone 13 times.
Erdogan last met Putin for talks in Sochi on November 13, agreeing on the need to boost elements for a lasting settlement.