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Erdogan seeks to find positive solution on Idlib as he meets Putin in Sochi Erdogan meets Putin, and fate of Syria’s Idlib is at stake
(about 5 hours later)
Moscow and Ankara must work out a “positive approach” to tackle the Idlib crisis in Syria, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ahead of holding talks with President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Monday. The talks are set to focus on the fate of Syria’s Idlib as it risks turning into an international crisis.
The Turkish president noted that Putin demonstrated a positive stance on September 7 when the two discussed Idlib with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran. “I hope [Putin] will continue the positive stance also going forward,” Erdogan said, the Daily Sabah reported.
Erdogan asserted that all parties must seek common ground. “The outcome of our meeting with Mr Putin will be important,” he told reporters on Monday. “If the situation in Idlib continues as is, the results will be heavy. We have to find a solution with Russia and [the US-led] coalition forces without letting this happen.” Syria’s northwestern Idlib Province, bordering Turkey, is the last major stronghold of anti-government militants. The militant-held region is surrounded by the Syrian Army, aided by the Russian airstrikes. For Syrian President Bashar Assad, the liberation of Idlib will effectively mean the end of the devastating seven-year long civil war.
The leaders are set to hold talks in Sochi, south Russia to seek a common strategy on Idlib ahead of a possible Syrian government offensive. The situation on the ground is “complicated,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, acknowledging that Moscow and Ankara have “certain differences in approach” towards Idlib. According to the Russian military, around 70 percent of the province is controlled by terrorist groups, with the largest being the Al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly known as Al-Nusra Front). The terrorists have heavy weaponry and thousands of fighters concentrated in Idlib and ready to conduct attacks and raids, Moscow has warned.
The disagreements between the nations were highlighted at the Tehran summit. Despite the presence of extremists, NATO nations have urged Russia and Syria not to launch offensives in the last remaining militant enclave. US President Donald Trump had called on Moscow and Damascus not to “recklessly attack” Idlib Province, warning that the operation could lead to “a grave humanitarian mistake.”
Turkey had called for a ceasefire in Idlib Province, warning of a possible high civilian death toll and a massive refugee influx into Turkey in the event of a large-scale government offensive. US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley voiced similar concerns, warning that Washington will consider “any assault on Idlib to be a reckless escalation of the conflict” that will have “dire” consequences.
In turn, the Russian president stressed in Tehran that Idlib Province is predominantly held by terrorist groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, which poses a threat to the whole region. The crisis around Idlib puts Turkey in a particularly uncomfortable spot. Its recent relations with its chief NATO ally, the US, have been marred by a series of diplomatic rows. At the same time, Ankara doesn’t wish to lose the foothold in Idlib to its rival Assad.
“The terrorists are making attempts to undermine the ceasefire. Furthermore, they conduct various provocations, including those using chemical weapons,” Putin told reporters on September 7. He also noted that militants in Idlib had launched numerous attacks against both Russian and Syrian troops, as well as civilians. President Erdogan expressed optimism before the Sochi talks, commending Putin’s positive approach at the meeting the two had in Tehran 10 days ago. “I hope he [Putin] will continue the positive stance also going forward,” Erdogan said, the Daily Sabah reported.
While insisting that jihadists should be separated from “moderate opposition” in the region, Turkey vowed to cooperate with all nations in combating terrorism. “We fight against all terror groups. Similarly, we fight against terrorism in Idlib,” Erdogan said. But in an apparent warning, the Turkish leader also made it clear that the situation in the embattled province will deteriorate and spiral into a new wave of the crisis, if the parties fail to seal the deal.
Like this story? Share it with a friend! “If the situation in Idlib continues as is, the results will be heavy. We have to find a solution with Russia and [the US-led] Coalition forces without letting this happen.”
Aside from losing allies among the local militants, whom Ankara considers “moderate opposition,” Turkey is concerned with the possible humanitarian impact. Erdogan had called for a ceasefire in Idlib province, warning of a high civilian death toll and a massive refugee influx into Turkey in the event of a large-scale government offensive.
Vladimir Putin had earlier stressed that the “terrorist pocket” in Idlib poses serious danger to the whole region, as the militants attack Russian and Syrian troops and civilians alike.
“The terrorists are making attempts to undermine the ceasefire. Furthermore, they conduct various provocations, including those using chemical weapons,” the Russian president said, noting that the terrorists in Idlib launched several drone attacks against the Khmeimim air base, which hosts Russian jets.
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