Russia and Turkey are discussing reducing the number of Turkish troops in Syria's Idlib and withdrawing heavy weapons from Ankara, informed Turkish sources told RIA Novosti.
"Turkish and Russian military delegations will discuss during a meeting at the headquarters of the Turkish Ministry of National Defense in Ankara the reduction of the number of Turkish military personnel in Idlib province in Northern Syria," one of the interlocutors said.
According to him, "during a meeting held yesterday, Tuesday, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, the Russian technical delegation presented a proposal to reduce the number of Turkish observation posts in the Syrian province of Idlib, but no agreement was reached on this issue."
"After the Turkish side refused to withdraw its observation posts and insisted on maintaining them, it was decided to reduce the number of Turkish forces stationed in Idlib and withdraw heavy weapons from the area," the source added.
He also noted that the Turkish Defense Ministry said that on Wednesday, the Russian and Turkish delegations "will hold a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Ankara to discuss the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib."
Idlib is the only region of Syria, a significant part of which still remains in the hands of gangs. In 2017, a Northern de-escalation zone was created there, where extremists who refused to lay down their weapons in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta and the southern regions of the country moved. There are observation posts of the Turkish army on the territory of the province and, in accordance with the agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on March 5 in Moscow, the military of the two countries conduct joint patrols in Idlib.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Felipe Dana/AP/TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti, TASS