President Erdoğan: A ceasefire will take effect in Idlib as of midnight
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Vladimir Putin of Russia held a joint press conference following their tête-à-tête and the meeting between the delegations at the Kremlin in Moscow.
Pointing to the Sochi memorandum reached in September 2018, President Erdoğan said pursuant to that memorandum the Idlib de-escalation zone was supposed to be preserved, but that due to the regime’s attacks targeting civilians directly, the tranquility installed in Idlib was disturbed. Stating that nearly 1.5 million people of Idlib, who have escaped the regime’s persecution, have reached Turkey’s borders, President Erdoğan, recalling that Turkey has sent additional military units to Idlib to ensure stability, said: “We have been a lot more effective on the ground both to prevent the regime’s aggression and restrain other groups that do not abide by the ceasefire. We have paid utmost attention to work in strict coordination with Russian forces during this process. Following the saddening incidents occurred due to the regime’s aggression targeting directly our soldiers, it is now inevitable to form a new status in Idlib.”
“OUR AIM IS TO PREVENT THE DETERIORATION OF THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE REGION”
Drawing attention to the cooperation between Turkey and Russia, President Erdoğan, voicing his belief that Russia will not turn a blind eye on the regime’s acts that will jeopardize this cooperation, said: “Today’s talks are the reflection of our will to find a lasting solution for the issue in the region by consolidating the steps we have taken in the Idlib area with our efforts at the table. First of all, we will implement a ceasefire as soon as possible and then quickly take the other steps we will together decide. The ceasefire will take effect tonight at 00:01, in other words at midnight. The steps necessary to make the ceasefire permanent will be taken in a quick and effective manner. Our aim is to prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the region. We will work together to deliver aid to all the needy Syrians without any precondition and discrimination.”
“TURKEY PRESERVES THE RIGHT TO RETALIATE AGAINST THE REGIME’S ATTACKS”
Noting that the text agreed upon by the parties will be read out by the foreign ministers, President Erdoğan said: “In the meantime, Turkey preserves the right to retaliate with full force and in the entire field against any attack the regime might conduct. We will be in contact with my esteemed counterpart. Our relevant ministers will be in contact with one another, as well. Turkey is determined to carry on with its initiatives, the Sochi Memorandum included, in the region until a solution is found to the Syrian crisis on the basis of Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity. Let me reiterate that the negotiations undertaken in Geneva are the sole key to lasting peace and stability. I hope our meeting today will contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving a lasting solution to the conflict in Syria.”
