Astana process guarantor states renew their commitment to reject separatist schemes aimed at undermining Syria’s sovereignty

Tehran (ST): The guarantor states of the Astana process, Russia, Iran and Turkey, renewed their firm commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, to continue combating terrorism in all its forms, and to reject separatist schemes aimed at undermining Syria’s sovereignty.

The final statement of the meeting of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, Russian Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran said that the leaders of the guarantor countries discussed the situation in Syria and reviewed the developments that followed the last virtual summit on July 1, 2020, and affirmed their determination to strengthen tripartite coordination in light of their agreements, the conclusions of the foreign ministers’ meetings, the latest international and regional developments, and the emphasizing the leading role of the Astana process in the peaceful and sustainable settlement of the crisis in Syria.

The presidents affirmed their firm commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and stressed the need to respect these principles globally, expressing their determination to continue working together to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

In their statement, they denounced the increasing activities of terrorist groups and their affiliates with different names in different regions of Syria, stressing the need for full implementation of all previous agreements regarding the de-escalation zone in Idlib.

They stressed their rejection of all attempts aimed at creating new facts on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism, stressing their determination to stand in the face of separatist plans aimed at undermining Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The three presidents affirmed their continued cooperation to eliminate all terrorist groups, institutions and entities, noting that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Syria and that it can only be resolved through the political process led by the Syrians and facilitated by the United Nations.

The leaders of the guarantor countries drew attention to the need to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of residence in Syria, calling on the international community to make contributions to the process and to develop recovery projects and basic infrastructure, especially water, electricity, sanitation, health, education, schools and hospitals.

The heads of the guarantor states condemned the continuation of the Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, stressing that these attacks violate international law and Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, destabilize stability and increase tension in the region.

K.Q.