Turkish FM calls in Russian, Iranian envoys over Idlib attacks

1/10/2018 8:27:54 AM

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ANKARA, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov and Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Taherian Fard on Tuesday to protest at the recent air raids in Idlib province, north Syria.

The Ministry conveyed to the two diplomats Turkey's dismay over the attacks by the Regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on moderate opposition groups in, Turkey's AA reported, citing a senior official of the Ministry.

Earlier today, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Syrian regime forces were targeting the moderate opposition "on the pretext of fighting Al-Nusra terrorist group." Cavusoglu warned at a press briefing at the parliament that the latest developments in Idlib could undermine the political settlement process in Syria. The sides who would soon be coming together for the upcoming Sochi talks should not be engaged in such acts of violence, he said, referring to the venue in Russia of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, to be held on January 29-30.

This attitude of the regime forces would "hamper the prospects for a political solution," AA quoted him as saying. The congress is expected to gather nearly 1,700 representatives of all segments of Syrian society except for the terror groups.

Turkey, Russia and Iran, the co-sponsors of the intra-Syrian peace talks, signed an agreement in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, in last September on the de-escalation zones in Syria, including Idlib. (end) rs.gb

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