Guarantor Countries’ Foreign Ministers Agree to Intensify Efforts Aiming at Reaching Political Settlement in Syria
MOSCOW, (ST)- The Foreign Ministers of the three Guarantor Countries of Astana process on Syria have agreed to intensify efforts aiming at reaching political settlement of the crisis in Syria based on Security Council Resolution No. 2254 and the agreement reached in Astana talks.
In a joint statement following their meeting in Moscow on Saturday, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey Sergey Lavrov, Javad Zarif and Mevlut Cavusoglu respectively reiterated the importance of continuous cooperation to completely eliminate terrorist organizations in Syria mainly Daesh, Jabhat al-Nusra and other al-Qaeda-affiliated groups. They expressed their strong rejection to any attempt to undermine Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and affirmed their determination to confront similar agendas planned to be implemented under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
The statement said that the three countries reaffirm their commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to the goals and principles of the UN Charter. They called for respecting these principles and announced their determination to enhance tripartite cooperation on the basis of the joint statements issued by the presidents of the three countries on November 22nd, 2017 and on April 4th, 2018.
The ministers announced their countries’ commitment to maintaining the cessation of hostilities in Syria as it has effectively contributed to alleviating the humanitarian suffering in Syria.
The joint statement, hailed the effective role of the Astana process as the only international process which, through joint counter-terrorism efforts, managed to deescalate tension and provide the circumstances for political settlement by facilitating all-out Syrian-Syrian dialogue and helping improve the situation in Syria.
The three ministers reiterated the important role played by Astana process to guarantee achieving real progress to attain a political solution in Syria through a comprehensive political process led by the Syrians.
They called on the international community, namely the United Nations and its humanitarian bodies to support Syria including in the demining process, in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and itts economic and social abilities and in maintaining the historical heritage.
The three ministers agreed to hold continuous consultation sessions between Russia, Iran and Turkey and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in order to facilitate forming a committee to discuss the constitution based on the recommendation of the Syrian national Dialogue Forum held in Sochi and on the Geneva talks in coordination with the three guarantor countries.
The ministers stressed the importance of immediate professional and objective investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons being the major concerned international body.
Hamda Mustafa