Lavrov: Russia, Turkey to Hold New Round of Talks on Idlib

Source and photo: AA

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Russia and Turkey are preparing for a new round of talks on Idlib, the de-escalation zone in Syria, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

"Now we are preparing another series of consultations, which, we hope, will lead us to an agreement on how to ensure that this is really a de-escalation zone and that the terrorists do not rule there," Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Moscow yesterday (February 24).

"I hope that the ongoing contacts between our military and the Turkish military, with the participation of diplomats and security services, will end positively, and we will be able to make sure that terrorists do not take over this part of Syria, as, in fact, they should not take over anywhere else," he said.

As government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have been advancing in northwestern Syria since December, Turkey has sent thousands of troops in Idlib. Turkey has lost more than a dozen soldiers since then. (EKN/VK)