SOCHI, Russia, Oct 23 (NNN-TASS) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, supported a memorandum reached by Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following their talks.
Putin informed al-Assad about the provisions of the Russia-Turkey memorandum, on actions in Syria, following talks with Erdogan.
The main task is to restore the territorial integrity of Syria and to continue joint efforts for a political settlement of the situation, including work within the framework of the Constitutional Committee, said Putin.
The Syrian border guards are ready to enter the Syrian-Turkish border, together with the Russian military police, he said.
Earlier, Russia and Turkey adopted a joint memorandum and agreed to deploy joint forces in zone of the Turkish operation in Syria, starting from today (Wednesday).
“Starting 12:00 noon (0900 GMT) of Oct 23, 2019, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border, outside the area of Operation Peace Spring, to facilitate the removal of YPG (Kurdish People’s Protection Units) elements and their weapons, to the depth of 30 km from the Turkish-Syrian border, which should be finalised in 150 hours,” the document said.
“At that moment, joint Russian-Turkish patrols will start in the west and the east of the area of Operation Peace Spring, with a depth of 10 km, except Qamishli city,” it added.
Both parties will take necessary measures to prevent infiltration of terrorism, the memorandum said.
To achieve “lasting and long-term stabilisation” is possible, only subject to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, Putin stated.
“We share the concern of the Turkish side, in connection with the increasing threat of terrorism and the growth of ethno-confessional contradictions in this region. In our opinion, these contradictions and separatist sentiments have been artificially fuelled by outsiders recently,” he noted.
Syria must be exempted from an illegal foreign military presence, said Putin.
Erdogan praised the agreement for stopping “the creation of any separatist manifestations” on the Syrian territories.
“Both Turkey and Russia will not allow this,” the president said, following talks with Putin.
According to Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, the Turkish “Operation Peace Spring” military offensive is cancelled. Everything will depend on how the agreements are implemented, including on the withdrawal of weapons and the withdrawal of forces and means of the Kurdish units.”
