The presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey, Vladimir Putin, Ebrahim Raisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are planning to adopt a joint statement of the heads of the states-guarantors of the Astana process following the July 19 talks in Tehran, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader, told reporters on Monday.
Yury Ushakov said: "By the results of the summit of the Astana format in Tehran we mean the adoption of a joint statement. A draft has been prepared and has already been practically agreed upon, its adoption will be announced immediately after the meeting of the three presidents," the Kremlin spokesman said.
"The Astana format has proven and continues to prove its effectiveness and is, perhaps, the only international instrument that can have a positive real impact on the situation in Syria," Ushakov said.
He noted that "as of today, a stable cessation of hostilities has been maintained on a large part of the Syrian territory and the situation on the ground remains generally stable." "Largely thanks to the efforts and joint work of Russia, Iran and Turkey, the level of violence has decreased, the main pockets of ISIS (former name of IS, banned in Russia - TASS) have been defeated and the potential of other terrorist groups and their accomplices has been significantly undermined, the government control over most of the country has been restored, which is very important," enumerated the Kremlin representative.
"Within the framework of the Astana process, work is going on at various levels, including consultations at the expert level," Ushakov pointed out, recalling that 18 such meetings took place in total. "In addition to delegations of guarantor countries, the consultations are attended by representatives of the Syrian parties, the Syrian government, the armed opposition, observer countries (Jordan, Iran, Iraq), as well as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Syria, members of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees", specified the assistant to the Russian president.
He also drew attention to the fact that "a working group on the release of hostages is functioning, thanks to its efforts six operations on the exchange of detainees were organized between the Syrian government and the armed opposition, 136 people were released altogether". Ushakov called one of the successes of the Astana process the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi in November 2018 under the auspices of the guarantor countries, which consolidated the provision of the UN Security Council resolution on the non-alternative resolution of the conflict through a political process carried out by the Syrians themselves with UN assistance. "A constitutional committee was formed as a result of the congress, which is, in fact, the only platform for direct dialogue between the Syrian parties on the future state structure of this country," the Kremlin spokesman recalled.
Agenda of meeting in Tehran
Ushakov noted that the heads of guarantor states of the Astana process for facilitating the Syrian settlement will meet in Tehran on July 19, and the summit will be attended by Putin, Raisi and Erdogan. He recalled that the Troika talks have been held regularly over the past five years. But in July 2020, due to the worsening of epidemiological situation, the summit was held via videoconference. "Now the presidents have decided to meet, to hold a meeting in a face-to-face format. This, of course, is very important, because discussing such sensitive issues as the Syrian settlement, in person, of course, more logical and expedient," the Kremlin spokesman noted.
He specified that Putin in Tehran will not only participate in the summit, but also hold a meeting with Iranian spiritual leader Ali Khamenei, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ushakov said Putin's work program in Tehran will begin Tuesday afternoon with a conversation with Raisi, followed by a meeting with Iranian spiritual leader Ali Khamenei, followed by Putin's talks with Erdogan. According to him, "quite late, at about 9 p.m., the
meeting of the Astana format [will take place]."
"The negotiations will start in an open format, the presidents will make brief statements, and then there will be a discussion in a closed format without reporters, and after the end of this work the three presidents will make statements on the results," the Russian presidential aide said. He added that the Iranian side has planned a working lunch, so Putin will not return to Moscow until after 2 a.m. on July 20.
The Russian head of state will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Special Representative for the Middle East and African countries Mikhail Bogdanov, Head of the Main Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff Igor Kostyukov, and Special Presidential Representative for the Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentyev.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS