Istanbul deal on Idlib, Syria prevented worse: France

Istanbul deal on Idlib, Syria prevented worse: France

Turkey hosted Oct. 27 summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany and France, focusing on permanent cease-fire in Idlib

By Yusuf Ozcan

PARIS (AA) - An agreement reached last month in Istanbul on the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib prevented a worse outcome there, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

In a press conference in Paris with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "Now we want to strengthen the cease-fire agreement and move to a political process in Syria."

Le Drian said there is close cooperation between Russia and France and called for the continuation of dialogue even though they have different views on some issues.

After agreeing to set up a demilitarized zone in Idlib at a Sept. 17 meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on Oct. 27 Turkey hosted a four-nation summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France.

In a joint statement, the leaders stressed the importance of maintaining the fight against terrorism, fully implementing effective measures, and a permanent cease-fire that each party would comply with.


- Ukraine and Russia

About Sunday’s confrontation between Russia and Ukraine at the entrance to the Sea of Azov, Le Drian said an arms buildup in the region would “increase tension and lead to new problems like the one on Sunday."

Calling for restraint, Le Drian voiced hope for more Russian efforts on the issue.

Lavrov, for his part, said the tension was intentionally fueled and that no mediation between Russia and Ukraine is needed.

On Sunday, three Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea moved to enter the Kerch Strait to reach the Sea of Azov.

The incident ended up with several Ukrainian servicemen killed or injured -- the Ukrainians say the former and the Russians, the latter -- and the vessels seized by the Russian military.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, view the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Russia for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia.

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