The Duran
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Via RT…
Despite years of disagreements on Syria, the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany, and Russia worked out a common vision for the steps to reconciliation in the war-torn country when they met in Istanbul. Here’s a summary of it.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hosted the talks, was joined by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and France’s Emmanuel Macron, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Following the summit, the four leaders held a joint press conference and released a communique, highlighting what common ground they had found during the four-way talks.
- Only political solution for Syria
The leaders have “expressed their support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that is facilitated by the United Nations.”
- Need to start work on constitution in Geneva
A committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for Syria should begin its work as soon as possible, preferably before the end of this year.
- No to division of Syria
Syria must continue to exist within its pre-war borders. Any separatist movements or desires of foreign powers to occupy parts of the country are therefore firmly rejected.
- Keep ceasefire & defeat terrorists
The four countries have expressed their support for the Idlib ceasefire deal, brokered earlier by Russia and Turkey. At the same time, they emphasized the importance of fighting terrorism and condemned the use of chemical weapons.
- Boost humanitarian aid
The United Nations and other international organizations should bolster aid deliveries to the war-torn country. “Swift, safe and unhindered” flow of humanitarian aid will provide much-needed relief to the sufferings of the Syrian people.
- Help return of refugees
The four leaders stressed the importance of “safe and voluntary” return of refugees to Syria. To facilitate the process, appropriate housing and social care facilities must be constructed in the country.
- Internationally observed elections
The ultimate goal of the political settlement process is holding transparent, internationally observed elections, the statement reads. All Syrians, including those who had to flee the country, must be able to participate.
RT on Twitter: “#Putin: #Syria peace process a priority, but remaining terrorists must be destroyed https://t.co/XrojPWUnwg pic.twitter.com/lUKhM3hPvt / Twitter”
Putin: #Syria peace process a priority, but remaining terrorists must be destroyed https://t.co/XrojPWUnwg pic.twitter.com/lUKhM3hPvt
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Wow, Merkel and Macron are agreeing with Putin.
They’re saying the US must leave Syria, and elections should be held. They must know Assad will win, and that he didn’t do the gas attacks.
Now they should do the same for Venezuela and Brazil. This could be a formula to stop the USA from invading and plundering Sovereign Countries.
Dear Mr Putin you may put your trust in Merkel and Macron, but be prepared for that knife in your back.
Very true, just the way they have helped sabotage implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
Does President Assad at least get the chance to sit in a back room and listen?
I was thinking along the same lines. When the new constitution is written, Syria must have the lead role in it.
Exactly. And by the way when the old constitution as rewritten, it was overwhelmingly endorsed in a 2012 referendum. Why haven’t France and Germany acknowledged that?
Good work by Putin but he needs to expect a dirty backstabbing from all the other three so-called partners here. I love the way that they have to accept the original political process and sovereignty of Syria irregardless of hating every minute of such a pro-demographic reality being only what Assad and Damascus ever stood for and that a Geneva constitution is left merely as a belated side-line that will still likely fail unless it falls in place with Syria’s wishes (as were Assad’s demands all along). I bet Erdogan, Macron and White Helmets are despising their non-use of terrorist… Read more »
Actually – Merkel seems alright about it (on the surface at least) – but false-flagging pro-terrorist war-criminal sicko-liars Macron and Erdogan are fuming underneath their fake forced half-smile grimaces!! I reckon there is about to be a public worldwide showing of perverted global-traitor Israel’s, ZioWest’s (USA and UK) and Saudi Arabia’s sick-minded depravity and terror-collusion here and the rest want to try getting out of it now (at least by name) – hence being made to begrudgingly agree with peace-favoring Syria’s (Assad’s) terms which Russia has rightfully preserved all along. It is time for all the sadistic resource-thieving civilian-murdering media-lying… Read more »
Wonder if Putin queried Macron over France’s illegal occupation in Syria by setting up a military base.
One questions why Iran was not included as part of the group, and wonders if it was both a concession to Israel and to the U.S., as well as an indication that Iran will continue to be marginalized and sanctioned notwithstanding its compliance with the JCPOA (while Israel snubs its nose with its own nuclear proliferation and refusal to sign the non-proliferation treaty, and the US is terminating its WMD agreements wth Russia- first the ABM Treaty, and now the INF Treaty). And, I wonder if, by excluding Iran, it is also being set up for a US-Israeli military attack… Read more »
The problem is, and has always been, that the attending ‘NATO’ representatives agree to these declarations, whether at summits or via UN resolutions, and then support the opposite in their actions. It is not just the US that is ‘non-agreement-capable’ … NATO has mastered it too.
They are not primarily NATO representatives. NATO does not agree with this. I think you are right that the EU is not agreement capable, but there is still some home for the constituent countries.
Getting an agreement was probably facilitated by leaving out parties still illegally present in Syria like IS, US and UK.
BLA BLA BLA ..perhaps this the one & only solution but bottom line will be to leave Assad to run the country after he is elected without interference from the USA & the “OTHERS”.