‘We have exciting developments on the Syrian account,’ says US Special Envoy Jeffrey

* Photo: Özge Elif Kızıl – Ankara/AA

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James Jeffrey, the United States (US) Representative for Syria Engagement, arrived in the capital city of Ankara to discuss the latest situation in Syria.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Jeffrey addressed the reporters after he arrived at the Esenboğa Airport yesterday (August 26).

With his plane landed at 7 p.m. local time in Turkey, Jeffrey is accompanied by a delegation to discuss the latest efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria.

"We have exciting developments on the Syrian account," James Jeffrey told reporters at the airport. Underlining that the Syrian Constitutional Committee's third round of meetings had begun in Geneva, Jeffrey said: 

"It was a good start, much helped by Turkey's encouragement of all members of the Constitutional Committee, particularly the opposition."

'There is no more ground to be gained by the regime'

Jeffrey said that though the coronavirus tests of some members of the committee are yet to come in, he was hopeful that the body would continue to move on the political path and not stop progress.

"The military phase of this conflict needs to end. There is no more ground to be gained by the regime. The regime needs to return to the negotiating table and deal with the rest of the international community. That is our priority," Jeffrey said and added that he and his delagation would discuss these issues with the officials during his visit in Turkey.

'Turkey must be at the table'

Referring to President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks that "the US had sided with terrorist organizations instead of its NATO ally Turkey," Jeffrey said, "The US is a close ally of Turkey. We proved our value in many fields outside of Syria."

He reminded that on October 17, 2019, the ninth day of Turkey's cross-border Operation Peace Spring into Syria, a US delegation arrived in Ankara and reached an agreement with Turkey on its efforts in northern Syria.

"We are working to ensure that is maintained. We have very close coordination on Idlib and on the political process and we will continue to do exactly what we are doing. Syria is a major security and geopolitical threat for its all neighbors, beginning with Turkey. Turkey must be at the table in any resolution of this conflict," he added.

Jeffrey met with Deputy Foreign Minister

Previously, the US State Department had said that James Jeffrey would gather with senior officials in Ankara to discuss the implementation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2254 for the resolution of the Syrian conflict, efforts to defeat ISIS, and other forms of bilateral cooperation related to the stability of Syria and the region.

Jeffrey also met with Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal yesterday, who held talks in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the Syrian Constitutional Committee's third round of meetings.

During their meeting, Jeffrey and Önal discussed the political process in Syria, how to support the work of the Constitutional Committee, the situation in Idlib and the maintenance of the ceasefire in the field. (EKN/SD)