Iran Press/Asia: A statement was issued at the end of a meeting between the presidents of Iran, Russia, and Turkey, Hassan Rouhani , Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, at the 5th trilateral Summit in Astana format in Ankara on Monday, September 16.
The statement welcomed the participation of Iraq and Lebanon as new observer countries in the Astana format talks and urged the international community to do more to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Syria and to reconstruct the country after eight years of war.
The three presidents also stressed their intention to strengthen economic and business ties between Tehran, Moscow, and Ankara. The final communique has 14 paragraphs as follows:
(1) The situation on the ground in Syria has been reviewed carefully, and new developments since their last meeting in Sochi on 14 February 2019, and the three presidents emphasize their determination to strengthen their trilateral cooperation on Syria.
(2) The three presidents emphasize their solid commitment to protecting the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Syria, and their commitment to upholding the charter and principles of the United Nations. All countries must respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria.
(3) The need to respect international law , in particular those UN security council resolutions which reject Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights. The three presidents declare their commitment to UN security council resolution 497, and condemn the US administration's decision to recognise the unlawful Israeli occupation of Syria's Golan Heights. All sides agree that this US decision goes against international law, destabilizes the region, raises tensions, and is a clear violation of Syria's territorial integrity.
(4) The situation in northeast Syria was carefully reviewed and all sides agreed that stability and security in this region is only possible if Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity is respected. The three side agreed to coordinate their response to developments in north east Syria.
(5) The three sides condemn efforts to break up Syria, and create new realities on the ground using the pretext of fighting terrorism. The three sides declare their intention to stand up to any attempt to break up Syria, or to weaken the legitimate government of Syria, or to threaten the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Syria.
(6) The situation in Idlib province in Syria was reviewed carefully and the three sides agreed to fully implement the 17 September 2018 agreement vis-a-vis Idlib province. The three sides issued a warning regarding the humanitarian situation in Idlib, and expressed their serious concern about presence of various terror groups, including Tahrir al-Sham terrorists in Idlib province.
(7)There is no military solution to the conflict in Syria, and finding a political settlement of the conflict, in which all Syrian sides participate, and which is based on the UN security council resolution 2254, is the correct way to proceed.
(8) The three sides declare their satisfaction with the work of the new constitition committee and declare their support for special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, to find a consensus between all Syrian sides regarding a new constitution for the country.
(9) The three sides said all Syrians should have access to humanitarian aid throughout the country. The three sides asked the United Nations, humanitarian aid organisations and international bodies to shoulder a greater responsibility for bringing aid to the Syrian people.
(10) The three sides emphasized the need for safe and voluntary repatriation of Syrian refugees and displaced persons to their homes in Syria.
(11) The three sides welcomed the participation of Iraq and Lebanon as new observer countries in the Astana format talks.
(12) In addition to Syria, the latest regional and international events, as well as cooperation between the three countries were reviewed, and the three presidents emphasized their decision to strengthen commercial and economic ties between Tehran, Moscow, and Ankara.
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To be updated...
