2nd Turkey-Russia talks on Syria completed in Ankara

By Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) – The second talks between Turkish and visiting Russian military delegations on the implementation of the Sochi deal on Syria ended on Saturday, said Turkey’s National Defense Ministry.

"Within the framework of the agreement reached with the Russian Federation in Sochi [Russia] on October 22, 2019; the negotiations held between November 1-2 with the second Russian Military Delegation, which came to [Turkish capital] Ankara to discuss the tactical and technical issues, have been completed," the ministry said in a statement.

The first Russian delegation visited Turkey on Oct. 28 after Ankara and Moscow reached a deal on Oct. 22 under which YPG/PKK terrorists would pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia would conduct joint patrols there. The 150-hour period ended on Tuesday.

The deal came after Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders and ensure safe return of Syrian refugees. The operation was also meant to safeguard Syria’s territorial integrity.