Turkey: The ceasefire in Idlib is still effective, a Russian military delegation to visit Ankara
North-Press Agency
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said, on Saturday, that the Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement in Idlib, Syria, has not witnessed any violations, noting that a Russian delegation will visit Ankara this week.
While a cautious calm prevails in Idlib governorate, north-western Syria, after the start of the implementation of the Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement at the contact points in the region.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said today, Saturday, that the ceasefire agreed with Russia in Syria's Idlib, has not witnessed any violations.
Akar pointed out that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara this week, and that Turkey has started work to lay the foundations for the security corridor around M4 highway in Idlib. He added that Ankara would respond to any attack targeting its observation points and its soldiers in Idlib. In addiyion, Akar announced the launching of joint Russian-Turkish patrols on the 15th of March.
On Friday, Turkish President Erdogan said that the ceasefire agreement in Idlib protects the Turkish border and paves the way for restoring conditions in the region to their nature and ensuring security for the forces and civilians, stressing that his country will remain alert to respond to violations in the event they occurred.
Furthermore, Erdogan said that Ankara had received the Russian S-400 defense system, in full, and that it would operate in April, noting that his country had asked Washington for the Patriot system.
He added that the observation centers in Idlib, north-western Syria, will maintain their current status under the ceasefire agreement.
Besides, the Turkish presidency announced, on Friday, that an agreement reached between Ankara and Moscow over the situation in the Syrian governorate of Idlib, which would allow the resumption of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of Astana process regarding Syria.
Additionally, in a press statement, on Friday, Turkish Vice President Fouad Oktay said: "The recent understanding reached during Erdogan's visit to Russia is reviving the tracks of Astana and Sochi."
Erdogan and Merkel
On Friday, Turkish President Erdogan made a phone call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during which he affirmed that "Turkey has guaranteed the protection of innocent civilians and the security of Turkish soldiers who sacrifice their lives in order to achieve calm in the area" through the ceasefire agreement in Idlib, according to the Turkish presidency.
The two sides, also, discussed the refugee issue, where Erdogan said that the agreement between Turkey and the European Union in 2016 should be reviewed "because it is not being implemented."
Damascus is welcoming
For its part, Damascus welcomed, on Saturday, the agreement concluded recently between Russia and Turkey regarding Idlib. Where political and media adviser to the President of Syria Bouthaina Shaaban said that the agreement will be in the interest of Syria, its army and people.
Shaaban stressed in statements to the Syrian TV channel that the Russian-Turkish agreement in Moscow was an outcome of the Syrians' sacrifices in the interest of Syria, and that it is part of several political, military and diplomatic paths.
Shaaban pointed out that the agreement concluded is temporary and only concerns a specific region, accusing Erdogan of not adhering to Sochi agreement and the absolute coordination with Israel and the United States.
"The Russian-Syrian coordination is accurate, as there is credibility, and mutual absolute trust between the two countries," she said.
In turn, the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed his satisfaction with the achievements made by the Russian leadership during the meeting with the Turkish delegation in Moscow, and the positive repercussions that it could bear to the Syrian people on various levels, humanitarian, socially and economically in case the Turkish side adheres to it, according to the statement of the Syrian presidency.
The statement explained that during the phone call, it was confirmed that the agreements reached are within the framework of efforts aimed at guaranteeing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria; in addition to that, it can help create the atmosphere for re-launching the political process.
U.S.- UN talks
The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on Friday, the importance of a continuous cease-fire in Idlib, and the continued transport of humanitarian aid across the borders under the auspices of the United Nations.
International reactions
The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said on Friday:
"The cease-fire is good news, so let's see how it will work as it is a precondition in order to increase the humanitarian aid for the people in Idlib."
Speaking ahead of a session for the Foreign Affairs Council in Croatia's capital Zagreb, Borrell said that efforts will be focused on the humanitarian side to intensify aid to civilians affected by the conflict, after the agreement to stop hostilities in Idlib which was reached in Moscow between the Russian and Turkish sides.
Dutch Foreign Minister Steve Blok called for the establishment of a no-fly zone to prevent any hospitals from being bombed.
While Andrei Baklanov, the deputy chair of the association of Russian diplomats confirmed that the agreement between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Turkish President Erdogan has prevented the situation in Idlib from turning into a military confrontation.
"It is not clear what will happen later, it is not clear what the answer will be if provocations start out of a sudden, and also many other questions," Baklanov added, stressing that the situation still maintains its explosive nature.
The agreement is being implemented
Russia indicated that the agreement reached with Turkey regarding a ceasefire in Idlib governorate, is being implemented in general, despite monitoring of some shelling operations.
The Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nebenzia Vassily said in a press statement on Friday at the headquarters of United Nations, after a closed-door session of the UN Security Council regarding Idlib: "The ceasefire agreement in Idlib is being implemented in general, yes, there have been sporadic shelling, but we hope that it will be stopped."
Nebenzia's remarks came after the United States blocked a draft statement of the UN Security Council, during a closed-door session at Russia's request about its agreement with Turkey regarding Idlib.
Washington is blocking the agreement
Informed sources at the United Nations revealed that the United States has blocked a draft UN Security Council statement supporting the Russian-Turkish agreement regarding a cease-fire in Idlib.
During consultation closed sessions over Idlib, the United States objected to a draft statement submitted by Russia in support of the agreement with Turkey, according to several media outlets quoting diplomatic sources.
Nebenzia explained that the Russian delegation has informed its counterparts about the content of the ceasefire agreement in Idlib.
He pointed out that most members of the Security Council supported this initiative, noting: "We wanted to approve a joint press statement, but this matter has become impossible due to the stance of one delegation," refusing to disclose who hindered the adoption of the statement.
On Thursday, the Russian President and his Turkish counterpart, Erdogan reached a package of decisions to ease tension in Idlib, which includes declaring a ceasefire in the region and establishing a safe corridor in specific areas of M4 highway.
As the two sides also agreed to conduct joint Russian-Turkish patrols starting at March 15, 2020, along M4 highway from the town of Tarnaba 2km from Saraqeb to the town of Ain al-Hoor.