IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – A number of two-way meetings, within the framework of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, between Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and his counterparts of Russia, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, India, Armenia, Maldives, Bahrain, UAE and others started on September 22 with the aim to consolidate and develop relations and discuss the Syrian crisis and refugees issue.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stressed in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, on September 24 that his country continues to provide all kinds of support to Syria to preserve its sovereignty, integrity and independence.
The two parties emphasized that the European countries should not hinder the implementation of early recovery projects included in the UN RES. 2642, and they also stressed the need that promises made by donor countries are fulfilled.
Attended by 193 world leaders and presidents, the UN General Assembly 77th session started on September 13.
Common issues
On the sideline of the UN General Assembly works, Lavrov and Mekdad laid stress on the importance of the Astana format and the need to continue coordination in all issues, with the Syrian issue could be prioritized in line with Russia’a interest, according to observers.
Russian bids to reconcile Syria and Turkey where it usually says it seeks to bring the two countries closer.
On September 19, Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Special Representative of the President of Russia for the Middle East, said his country welcomes readiness of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to meet the Syrian President.
Bogdanov added Russia calls for normalizing ties between Turkey and Syria.
He indicated that his country supports the proposal of holding a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, and he expressed readiness to render help to host it if necessary.
Bogdanov noted security and military meetings between the two parties are continuing, adding Russia encourages and supports such meetings.
Erdogan had voiced he would have liked to meet his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand in Uzbekistan that was concluded on September 17, according to Hurriyet.
In his speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations, Erdogan reaffirmed the necessity of finding a radical solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with the UN resolution, saying a peaceful compromise is needed to solve the crisis in Syria.
No contacts
Amid ambiguous Turkish-Syrian moves for rapprochement, both parties make contradictory statements.
On September 24, Mekdad denied the existence of any negotiations with Turkey.
Mekdad said, in a press statement to the Russian Sputnik, “There are no negotiations, there are no contacts, there is nothing at least on the level of foreign ministers.”
Mekdad indicated non-commitment by Turkey (to the Astana format) is an obstacle in the way of any settlement in Syria.
On September 23, Ibrahim Kalin, spokesperson for the Turkish Presidency, denied any plan for political contact with the Syrian government.
Kalin, in a press briefing, confirmed the existence of intelligence meetings in an indication to meetings held between Ali Mamlouk head of the Syrian National Security Bureau and Hakan Fidan Chief of the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey.
Syrian refugees prioritized
Back to the two-way meetings held at the sidelines of the General Assembly 77th session, issue of the Syrian refugee return topped the table of talks between Mekdad and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in New York.
In a statement on September 22, Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said both parties discussed efforts exerted to reach a political solution for the Syrian crisis that could ensure the integral unity of Syria and creating the ground for a safe and voluntary return of refugees.
The UN General Assembly finishes its 77th session on Monday.
The two parties discussed border security, drug smuggling, water and food security and other issues of concern, according to the statement.
Jordan homes nearly 676.000 Syrian refugees according to figures of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mostly living in Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps.
The Jordanian government says there are 1.3 million Syrian refugees living on its soil.
In an another two-way meeting, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani reaffirmed to his Syrian counterpart his country’s support to the unity of Syria and bringing in security and stability proper in the whole country.
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said the two ministers met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly 77th session, adding Alzayani highlighted the necessity of cooperation and building bridges between brothers and friends.
Mekdad said Syria prioritizes developing intra-Arab relations and promoting joint Arab action.
The developments witnessed in the region and ways of developing relations between the two countries in all arenas were also touched up on by the two ministers, according to SANA.
Foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey held a tripartite meeting in the Astana format, discussing the situation in Syria.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Sergei Lavro, Turkey’s Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iran’s Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, met behind closed doors.