Turkey, Russia and Iran 'to meet on Syria war'

Turkey, Russia and Iran are holding a meeting later this month in efforts to find a solution for Syria's five-year conflict, Ankara has said.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

15 December, 2016

Last month the regime launched an assault to recapture rebel-held eastern Aleppo [AFP]

Turkey, Russia and Iran will hold a meeting in Moscow on 27 December to try to find a solution to the five-year conflict in Syria, Ankara said on Wednesday.

"We are striving to secure a ceasefire throughout the country and for negotiations for a political solution to start," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told TGRT Haber broadcaster, vowing Ankara would continue its efforts in the near future.

"For this reason, at the end of the month, on 27 December in Moscow, we will hold a tripartite meeting with Turkey, Russia and Iran."

While Russia and Iran back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the war, Turkey supports the opposition seeking to unseat him.

Last month the regime launched an assault to recapture the rebel-held east of Aleppo city.

Cavusoglu's remarks come a day after the announcement of a ceasefire deal following negotiations between the Russian military and Turkish intelligence with Syrian rebels in eastern Aleppo.

The deal meant civilians and rebels would leave Aleppo and go to neighbouring Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

However hours later it looked at risk of falling apart after shelling and airstrikes resumed in the city on Wednesday.

Cavusoglu accused Assad of preventing the evacuation of civilians, adding that claims that opposition fighters had broken the ceasefire were "lies."