Astana 18th: guarantors commit to de-escalation in Syria’s Idlib, oppose AANES
ERBIL, Iraq, KRI (North Press) — Russia, Turkey and Iran said on Thursday that they had agreed to put more efforts in ensuring the stability of the situation in the de-escalation zone in Syria’s Idlib, while unanimously rejecting the situation in northeastern Syria.
Northeastern Syria, along with other areas, is controlled by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). Its military wing – the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – is considered the main US ally on the ground in Syria.
This came in a joint statement on the outcomes of the 18th round of Astana peace talks on Syria, which was held in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan.
In the statement, the three guarantors stressed “the need to maintain calmness on the ground in Idlib.”
The statement did not say whether this includes the areas in the countryside of Aleppo, which are included in Turkey’s military operation plan.
However, prior to the issuance of the final statement, the delegations of Russia and Iran stressed on their rejection to the Turkish military operation.
According to the statement, the parties discussed the situation in northern Syria, and agreed that the “lasting security and stability in this region can only be achieved on the basis of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”
The three parties rejected what they described as “separatist” agendas in northeastern Syria “aimed at undermining Syria’s unity and threatening the national security of neighboring countries,” in a clear reference to the AANES.
The guarantors believed that the Syrian conflict does not have a military solution, underscoring their support of a “political process implemented only by Syrians with the help of the United Nations in line with the UN resolution No. 2254.”