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Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands at the end of a joint press statement on March 5, 2020.Photo: Pavel Golovkin/POOL/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has “praised” the recent Idlib ceasefire negotiated between Ankara and Moscow, according to a readout from the Kremlin.
The ceasefire, which began at midnight, comes amid weeks of heavy fighting between Turkish and Syrian regime forces in the northwestern province. Assad’s battle to reclaim control of Idlib, touted as the last rebel bastion, has displaced nearly a million civilians since December.
The Russian president “updated Bashar al-Assad on the agreements reached during the Russian-Turkish summit held on March 5, stressing that their implementation will help stabilise the situation in the Idlib zone,” read the readout from Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Moscow on Thursday, discussing recent developments in Idlib. Both leaders agreed on a ceasefire between all groups, including a halt to the recent clashes between Turkish and Syrian regime forces.
"Bashar Assad praised the outcome of talks between the Russian and Turkish leaders and expressed gratitude to the Russian president for the support to the fight against terrorist groups and efforts aimed at ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria," the readout added.
Syrian state media SANA outlet reported that Assad “expressed satisfaction” over Putin and Erdogan's talks on Thursday, saying they could have“ potential positive effects” on the Syrian people on “humanitarian, social, and economic levels, if the Turkish side commits to them.”
The ceasefire was the result of almost six hours of talks in Moscow on Thursday and has been adhered to so far.
“All military activities will be halted in the Idlib de-escalation zone, starting from March 6, 2020 at 00:01,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.
Joint Turkish and Russian patrols will begin on Syria's strategic M4 highway on March 15, Cavusoglu said.
"A safe corridor will be established 6km north and 6km south of the M4 highway. The principles will be determined within seven days,” he added.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allied groups – backed by Russian air force – launched an offensive against former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and their allied rebel groups in Idlib and neighboring Aleppo in December, retaking areas held by the opposition since 2011.
Ankara launched Operation Spring Shield last Thursday after the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in regime strikes.
In an interview with Rossiya-24 aired on Thursday, Assad said the Turkish and Syrian people have important cross-cultural bonds.
“We talk about Turks as our brotherly people… I am asking the Turkish people: what is your problem with Syria? What is the problem over which Turkish citizens need to die?” he said, according to RT.
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