Turkey reminds Russia, Iran of Syria cease-fire pledges

By Nazli Yuzbasioglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has reminded Russia and Iran of their responsibilities in implementing the cease-fire in Syria following reports of a deadly chemical attack in opposition-held Idlib province that killed over 100 civilians, Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.

"We reminded the other two guarantor countries [Russia and Iran] of their responsibilities to warn the perpetrator and prevent similar [cease-fire] violations from repeating in the future, which pose a high risk to the safety and sustainability of the cease-fire," Huseyin Muftuoglu said in a written statement.

On Dec. 30, 2016, a cease-fire was brokered by Turkey, which backs the opposition, and Russia and Iran, who support the Bashar al-Assad regime.

According to Muftuoglu, Turkey as a guarantor was trying to hold the cease-fire and called for not repeating the violations.

He added the data received from a bilateral mechanism established between Turkey and Russia to monitor the violations was also shared with UN as well as the International Syria Support Group (ISSG).

The first round of Astana talks was held between Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. A second round was held in mid-February.

The negotiations continue in parallel with a more formal UN-mediated peace process in Geneva.

On Tuesday, more than 100 civilians were killed and 500 others, mostly children, were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Assad regime warplanes, according to the Syrian interim government's Health Minister, Firas Jundi.

Last year, a UN-appointed investigation panel found that chemical weapons were used by regime forces and opposition fighters in 2014 and 2015. However, no actionable steps were taken.

Since March 2011, the Syrian opposition has demanded an end to more than 44 years of Assad family rule and the establishment of a democratic state.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced.