All foreign military forces illegally present in Syria must leave: Kremlin

Moscow,( ST) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated his country’s position that all all foreign military forces illegally present in Syria must leave.

Peskov stressed in statements in Moscow today that the Turkish regime should commit itself to a political solution to the crisis in Syria and avoid measures that impede this solution.

Peskov denied that the Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by telephone new “military” plans of his regime in Syria.

 The Kremlin spokesman then commented on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that Ankara is prepared for a military campaign against Kurdish-led militants from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, emphasizing Russia’s call for refraining from actions that may hamper settlement of the crisis in Syria.

 “In this case, it is important to refrain from any actions that may create obstacles on the path of Syrian settlement. We know that certain perspectives are opening up and we understand that it will be a long and thorny path. And now that the Syrian Constitutional Committee has been formed and when the date for its meetings has been appointed, it is vital to refrain from any steps that may harm Syrian settlement,” he said.

Peskov further noted that the Kremlin expects Turkey to preserve the territorial and political integrity of Syria.

Moscow agrees that “Turkey may take action to ensure its security. It means resistance to terrorist elements that may be hiding in Syria. But first and foremost we say that the territorial and political integrity of Syria must be observed,” he said.

Peskov further stated that Putin and Erdogan have had no discussion concerning Ankara’s plan to carry out a military operation in northeastern Syria.

“However, you know that Russian and Turkish militaries and intelligence agencies maintain close contact,” the Kremlin spokesman pointed out.

Raghdas Sawas