"To prevent sabotage": the Russian Federation and Turkey agreed on further steps to create a demilitarized zone in Idlib

During the meeting, on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on the next steps of the two countries to create a demilitarized zone in Syrian Idlib. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov. He noted that not all representatives of extremist groups complied with the requirement to free the 20-kilometer demilitarized lane.

"We agreed on further steps to respect the agreement to create such a demilitarized strip, but at the same time take measures so that extremists did not try to sabotage this crucial agreement, which everyone welcomed," said Lavrov in the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin. "

On the eve, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian leader at a meeting with his Turkish counterpart spoke of the need to take more vigorous measures to implement agreements to prevent shelling, such as in Aleppo on 24 November.

At the same time, at the final press conference after the G20 summit, Putin pointed out the concerns of both countries about the situation in Idlib, but expressed hope for a speedy resolution of this problem.

“We use every opportunity to see and talk. Including to resolve the situation in Syria. This refers to the formation of a constitutional committee. The work is very delicate, requiring a lot of patience. And we are realizing, we succeed, we are moving very carefully, ”the Russian president added.

In turn, Erdogan noted that Turkey, in cooperation with the Russian Federation, controls the situation in the region and will continue to do everything necessary to resolve the conflict. In addition, in Ankara spoke in favor of holding another summit on Idlib.

Recall that on September 17, following negotiations between the presidents of the Russian Federation and Turkey, the defense ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on stabilizing the situation in Idlib and reached an agreement to create a demilitarized zone along the line of contact between the armed opposition and government troops in this Syrian province.

The situation in Idlib still remains rather complicated, but Russia and Turkey have a full understanding of what needs to be done. This was stated by Alexander Gusev, director of the Institute of Strategic Planning, in a conversation with RT. According to him, both countries are interested in ending once and for all with the Islamic State * and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups **.

“But we see that the coalition headed by the USA is doing everything to stretch the militants, again to take them out of the fire of Russia, Turkey and the Syrian government forces. The Americans need these militants in order to again create hotbeds of confrontation in the region, ”said Gusev.

He noted that Turkey plays a very important role in resolving the Syrian conflict, but the United States is trying to put pressure on Ankara so that it does not help Russia resolve the situation in the region.

“If we talk about Idlib, then it is necessary to filter all the bandit formations there so that they cannot move to other parts of Syria. But there is a danger that Americans may try to withdraw them. However, I believe that joint actions of the Russian Federation, Turkey and Iran will not allow this to happen, ”the expert noted.

“Kurdish map” of the USA and “unacceptable things”

In addition, Sergey Lavrov said that the United States is playing the "Kurdish card" on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and in other parts of Syria. According to the diplomat, this is “a very dangerous game.”

“What is happening on the eastern bank of the Euphrates clearly violates the declared adherence to the territorial integrity of Syria, declared by everyone and confirmed in the UN Security Council resolution, it is obvious to everyone. Although the United States verbally trying to present their actions as temporary, ”- said Lavrov.

He added that the US is doing "unacceptable things" in these areas, trying to form quasi-state structures. At the same time, Washington refuses to help rebuild the infrastructure in the territories controlled by Damascus.

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister noted that Western countries cannot offer an alternative to the solutions that are offered in the Astana format to resolve the situation in the SAR.

“I don’t know how much we can move them closer to our position. But the fact that they do not have a special alternative strategy, and, by and large, tactics, is becoming more and more obvious, ”the Russian Foreign Minister noted.

Last week, the Pentagon announced its intention to establish several observation points on the Syrian-Turkish border, ostensibly for the transfer of intelligence data on terrorists to Ankara. In response, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar pointed out that such an initiative would have a “very negative impact” on the situation in the region.

Recall that the American side supports the Kurdish Popular Self-Defense Detachment (YPG), which in Turkey is considered accomplices of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDS) banned in the country.

According to the director of the Institute of Strategic Planning Alexander Gusev, the bombing and attacks on civilians, in particular the recent attacks on Deir ez-Zor, in this region come from the connivance of the United States.

“It's already obvious to everyone, and for the Americans too, that there have been no mention of any militants around the banks of the Euphrates for a long time. But they are using the method of intimidation, that is, they carry out pinpoint, not continuous, bombardments, as a result of which peaceful quarters, hospitals, schools, where peaceful people are killed, come under attack, ”the analyst explained.

At the same time, the expert of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Vladimir Fitin, noted that Washington has long supported the armed formations of the Syrian democratic forces, which include Kurdish troops. According to him, in fact, the Americans in the Euphrates region are doing everything possible to separate this region from Syria.

“The US recently announced that they were creating so-called observation posts in northeastern Syria, which caused a very negative reaction from the Turkish authorities, who consider joint patrols of Kurds and Americans absolutely unacceptable, as they consider the people's self-defense units as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which they consider terrorist, "added Fitin.

* “Islamic State” (IG) - the organization is recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2014.

** “Khayat Tahrir ash-Sham” (“Jabhat Fath ash-Sham”, “Front an-Nusra”, “Jabhat an-Nusra”) - the organization is recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.