President Erdogan:

‘Significant Progress’ Made in Talks With Iran, Russia

Date: 24 February 2019 - 21:23

News ID: ۶۳۵۲۸

ISTANBUL (Dispatches) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday "significant progress" has been made in Turkey's ongoing talks with Russia and Iran to secure Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.
"Let's secure the Idlib region completely, we say. We are talking with Russia and Iran to do that and we have made significant progress," Erdogan said at a rally.
"At least half a million Syrians are waiting for the securing of this region to return there. Millions of Syrians will return to their homes when we secure the east of the Euphrates as well," he added, calling on the U.S. and the EU to support Turkey's efforts.
"We hope to accomplish it in cooperation with our allies. But we are keen to do it in our own capacity under any condition if they don't provide us with such a convenience," Erdogan warned.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 members of different factions of armed groups, which Syria, Russia Iran, and Turkey consider terrorists, are estimated to be active in the volatile Idlib province.
Iran and Russia believe that a buffer zone would help stop attacks from Idlib-based militants on Syrian army positions and Russia's military bases in the flashpoint region.