Erdoğan, Putin and Rouhani Announce Constitutional Committee for Syria

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Turkey, Russia, and Iran have stressed their strong commitment to Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity in a joint statement following a trilateral meeting in the capital Ankara.

Security and stability in northeastern Syria can only be achieved on the basis of respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the statement after the meeting, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani, his counterparts from Russia and Iran.

The Syrian conflict can only be resolved through "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the declaration said.

The presidents also condemned the US decision to recognize Syria's occupied Golan Heights as Israel territory, saying that in addition to violating international law it also threatens regional peace and security.

Turkey yesterday (September 16) hosted the fifth trilateral summit on the turmoil in Syria in the Astana format, based on a process launched in 2017 in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.

Erdoğan: A new tragedy would affect Europe

Erdoğan said the rising tension in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib was one of the main topics of the meeting, mentioning the ongoing land and air operations in the province since April.

Saying Ankara cannot ignore "a new tragedy" affecting 4 million people near its border, Erdoğan remarked such a development would affect not only Turkey but all of Europe.

"We stressed the need for concrete measures to ensure the safety of civilians and military personnel of guarantor countries in the field," Erdoğan added.

On a committee to draw up a new constitution for Syria, Erdoğan said the summit will push the committee to start its work as soon as possible.

On the planned "safe zone" with the US, he said if the desired result on the zone is not achieved with the US within two weeks, Turkey will start applying its own action plan.

Rouhani: US tried to divide Syria

Rouhani stressed that Iran, Turkey, and Russia have a common view on Syria's territorial integrity and unitary structure.

"We are all against foreign intervention in Syria. The US-supported terrorists in Syria and tried to divide Syria. This is unacceptable," Rouhani said.

He also blasted the US decision to recognize Syria's occupied Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

"The US is doing this although it has no rights to do so. This shows how ill-intentioned the US is towards the Syrian people," Rouhani said, adding that all three countries respect its territorial integrity.

He noted that the countries agree that the fight against terrorism should continue.

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation this March officially recognizing the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli territory, triggering a firestorm of criticism.

Israel occupies roughly two-thirds of the wider Golan Heights as a de facto result of the 1967 Middle East war. It moved to formally annex the territory in 1981 -- an action unanimously rejected at the time by the UN Security Council.

"There are terrorists east of the Euphrates River in Syria, and the area is controlled by the US," said Rouhani.

Rouhani stressed that the constitutional committee in Syria was formed, adding that he hopes it starts its work as soon as possible to revise the constitution.

The Iranian president also said that he is pleased that Iraq and Lebanon have joined the Astana peace process as observers.

Putin: Committee list approved

Putin, for his part, said that diplomats meticulously drew up the constitutional committee list, and did the procedural work, adding that the list was approved.

Peace in Syria is only possible through political dialogue in the country, he said.

Putin also agreed with Turkey's Erdoğan and Iran's Rouhani to take steps to reduce the tension in Syria's Idlib. (TP/VK)