Turkish, French leaders exchange views on Syria

By Ismail Ozdemir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed over the phone the humanitarian crisis in Syria’s besieged Eastern Ghouta region, a presidential source said on Sunday.

The phone conversation came as Bashar al-Assad regime forces’ attacks continued on civilians in the opposition-hold area near capital Damascus despite decisions to implement a ceasefire made separately by Russia and the UN Security Council.

The two leaders agreed to intensify top-level diplomatic talks to implement ceasefire and to pave the way for providing humanitarian aid to civilians in the region, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

During the phone conversation, Erdogan mentioned the trilateral summit of leaders from Turkey, Russia and Iran which is due as early as April, and stressed the formation of a constitutional Committee, which was decided at Sochi Congress, to contribute to the revival of Geneva process.

The two leaders agreed on continuation of mutual dialogue on Syria.

Speaking about Turkey’s ongoing Operation Olive Branch, Erdogan said the operation would eradicate the threat to the Turkey’s national security as well as contribute to people’s peace in the region.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

Erdogan also condemned the Friday’s terror attack on French embassy and cultural center in Burkina Faso.