Us and EU sanctions against Syria are illegal, they are aimed at economic suffocation of the Republic, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a video conference on Syria with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday.
"The sanctions imposed on Syria, which sidestep the UN Security Council and are, in essence, illegitimate and illegal, also have a negative effect," the Russian leader said.
He noted that, according to the World Food Organisation, over 9 million Syrians, which is a half of the population, need food aid, but despite that and the UN Secretary-General’s appeal to ease the sanctions under the pandemic, both Washington and Brussels made the decision to extend the restrictions against Damascus.
"Moreover, new sanctions have been imposed aimed, obviously, at suffocating the Syrian Arab Republic economically," Putin said. In this regard, the Russian President called that it was so crucial to consider ways to streamline humanitarian aid via our respective channels and support the Syrian people.
The Russian President said that the coronavirus pandemic has made the issue of coordinating humanitarian efforts in Syria even more urgent. " Given the spread of the coronavirus infection, coordination of our efforts on the humanitarian track is becoming increasingly necessary," he said. "It is so crucial to consider ways to streamline humanitarian aid via our respective channels and support the Syrian people," Putin said.
According to him, the "Troika" of Russia, Turkey, and Iran could do a lot for the post-conflict settlement in Syria, for the restoration of the economy and social sphere, and for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. "The conflict in Syria, the confrontation with the terrorists, has been ongoing for a number of years which naturally affects the country’s economic situation," the Russian leader pointed out.
During the video conference, Putin also invited the presidents of Iran and Turkey to discuss additional measures to combat terrorists in Syria.
The Russian head of state noted that "one of the main objectives of this videoconference is to jointly analyse the current state of affairs there and to agree on what else could be done to ensure long-term normalisation in the Syrian Arab Republic."
He explained that "he is primarily referring to continuing the fight against international terrorism". "We also need to think about what other measures are necessary to neutralise the terrorist groups that are still active," Putin added.
The Russian leader pointed out that the most tense situation remained in the territories outside the Syrian government’s control – in the Idlib de-escalation zone and in the northeast of the country, on the west bank of the Euphrates River "where ISIS activities have significantly increased". In particular, speaking about the situation in Idlib, Putin noted that Moscow continues to work closely with Ankara "to implement the agreements of the Sochi Memorandum of September 17, 2018 and Additional Protocol thereto of March 5, 2020. "
"Apparently, not all the issues have been resolved yet, however, the efforts being taken are yielding certain results. For example, the situation in the de-escalation zone has stabilised considerably since the ceasefire was introduced," the Russian President added.
Collaboration
Putin believes that Russia, Iran and Turkey have achieved much to resolve the situation in Syria.
"I agree with Mr Rouhani in his evaluation of the efficiency and relevance of our joint work on Syria. We have managed to achieve a lot by working together," the Russian leader said.
Putin got in touch with colleagues from the situation center in the Kremlin. He admitted that he was glad to see colleagues and "have a chance to discuss one of the most sensitive issues on the current international agenda." The Russian leader recalled that the last time heads of state – guarantors of the Astana process for facilitating the Syrian peace settlement met in Ankara in September 2019.
"There were plans to meet in Tehran in May but we could not meet for obvious reasons," Putin stated. He expressed gratitude to the Iranian side's "initiative to arrange the summit via videoconference.".
Among the things that have already been done to resolve the situation in Syria, the Russian President called a reduction in the level of violence. "Peaceful life is gradually being restored, but the key is that a foundation has been established for a sustainable political and diplomatic settlement based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254," Putin noted. He recalled that "this document contains the fundamental principle – adherence to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity."
Promoting the inter-Syrian dialogue
Putin also supported the active development of the inter-Syrian dialogue with a view to the subsequent state structure in Syria.
"As to the prospects for the political process, we need to promote the inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue within the framework of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva," he said.
The Russian leader noted that "proposals were made to support this process, help its participants meet and launch a direct dialogue to start drafting parameters for the future state structure of Syria."
He recalled that this was agreed on at the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi in January 2018, which was made possible thanks to the concerted efforts of the Astana process guarantors.
Presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey made a joint statement on Syria
Following the discussion, the leaders of the Astana Troika adopted a final statement, which emphasized that the principles of independence and integrity of Syria were subject to universal respect, and no one should undermine them.
"The parties noted their firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They stressed that these principles are subject to universal compliance and that no actions, no matter who takes them, should undermine them, " the text of the document reads.
Oil capture
Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan condemned the illegal seizure of oil fields and the appropriation of oil revenues that should belong to Syria.
The joint statement said that the parties "discussed the situation in the North-East of Syria, stressed that achieving stability and security in this area is possible only on the basis of respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and agreed to coordinate their efforts to this end."
"They expressed their rejection of the illegal seizure and transfer of oil revenues that should belong to Syria," the communique says.
The parties also "confirmed their determination to continue cooperation in the interests of the final elimination of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and all other individuals, groups, enterprises and organizations associated with al-Qaeda or is (these organizations are prohibited in the Russian Federation-. ed), and other terrorist groups recognized as such by the UN Security Council." At the same time, according to the presidents, it is necessary to ensure the protection of civilians and civil infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law.
According to the statement, Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan "discussed in detail the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone and stressed the need to maintain calm "on the ground" by fully implementing all existing agreements on Idlib." "In this regard, the parties rejected all attempts to create new realities "on ground" under the pretext of fighting terrorism, including illegal initiatives for self-government, " the document says.
Together with the US military, Kurdish detachments of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" control the largest oil fields in Syria in Rumeylan and Deir ez-Zor.
Israeli attack
Israeli military attacks in Syria violate the sovereignty of the SAR and lead to increased tension in the region.
"[The presidents] consider Israeli military attacks in Syria to be destabilizing, violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and leading to increased tension in the region," the statement said. The document emphasizes that Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan also " reaffirmed the need to respect universally recognized international legal decisions, including the provisions of relevant UN resolutions rejecting the occupation of the Syrian Golan, especially UN Security Council resolution 497, and accordingly condemned the decision of the US administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which is a gross violation of international law and poses a threat to regional peace and security."
The Israeli air force regularly attacks bases of Pro-Iranian Shiite formations fighting on the side of the Syrian army, as well as positions of the Syrian army in Syria. Israeli air force planes struck bases of Pro-Iranian Shiite groups in the province of Deir ez-Zor in the East of the country in the early hours of Sunday. Al Hadath TV reported that at least six fighters were killed in the attack on the Bou Kemal area near the border with Iraq. According to him, on Saturday, the new commander of the special forces "al-Quds" of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ismail Kaani, visited the location of Shiite groups in Eastern Syria.
On June 23, the Israeli air force attacked military positions of the Syrian army in the provinces of al-Suwayda and Deir ez-Zor. Then, according to the SANA news agency, two soldiers were killed and four were injured. Syrian air defenses opened fire on air targets and hit several enemy missiles.
Humanitarian assistance
Putin, Rouhani, and Erdogan called on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to all Syrians without discrimination, politicization, or preconditions.
"The parties noted the urgent need to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Syria in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, and called on the international community, especially the UN and its humanitarian agencies, to increase their assistance to all Syrians without discrimination, politicization and preconditions," the joint statement said.
Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan expressed serious concern about the humanitarian situation in Syria and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, "recognizing that it significantly complicates the work of the Syrian health system, socio-economic and humanitarian situation," the communique said.
The parties also "rejected all unilateral sanctions that violate international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter, especially in the context of the coronavirus pandemic."
Russia, Iran and Turkey are calling on the international community to increase aid to Syria aimed at restoring infrastructure and returning refugees. As stated in the statement, the presidents noted the need to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees to their homes in Syria.
"In this regard, [Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan] called on the international community to provide appropriate support for the resettlement of refugees and their return to normal life, as well as to increase their participation and assistance to Syria, including through the implementation of early recovery projects, including basic infrastructure - water and electricity, schools, hospitals, as well as humanitarian demining," the statement said.
Also, the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey "confirmed their determination to continue operations for the mutual release of forcibly held persons/hostages" within the framework of the Astana format profile working group. According to the presidents, the working group "is a unique mechanism that has confirmed its relevance and effectiveness in establishing trust between the Syrian parties," and in this regard, the Russian Federation, Iran and Turkey "agreed to take measures to continue its work."
Meeting in Tehran
The leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to hold a personal meeting in Tehran when the epidemiological situation allows.
"The parties decided to hold the next trilateral summit in the Islamic Republic of Iran at the invitation of President Rouhani as soon as possible," the joint statement said.
Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan also " agreed to instruct their representatives to hold, as soon as possible, another International meeting on Syria in the Astana format (MBCA-15)."
In addition, the three presidents " in addition to the Syrian issue, confirmed their decision to strengthen trilateral coordination in various areas in order to promote joint economic cooperation."
Constitutional Committee
Russia, Iran and Turkey will support the holding of the third meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva in August.
"The presidents < ... > welcomed the agreement to hold the third session of the Constitutional Committee in August 2020 and confirmed their readiness to support its work through constant interaction with its members and the UN Secretary - General's Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen<...>," the statement reads.
The presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey expressed their belief that "the Syrian conflict has no military solution and can only be resolved through a political process led and implemented by the Syrians themselves with the assistance of the UN". In this regard, the important role of the Constitutional Committee, which was created with the decisive contribution of the guarantor countries of the Astana format and in accordance with the decisions of the Congress of the Syrian national dialogue in Sochi, was also stressed.
The first meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee was held in October last year in Geneva.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS