Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for a photo before their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 15, 2020. (Via Reuters)
Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic will soon host a virtual conference on the situation in Syria and the Arab countrys peace process as agreed by the three guarantor countries in the Kazakh capital.
Zarif made the remarks while speaking in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Istanbul on Monday.
"This meeting will be held to help realize peace in Syria within framework of the Astana agreement," Irans foreign minister said.
Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey in April emphasized the need to continue consultations and coordination among the three guarantors of the Astana process as the most effective format for the settlement of the crisis in Syria.
Irans Zarif, Russias Sergei Lavrov and Turkeys Cavusoglu conferred on a range of issues, including the situation in the militant-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria, the Syria Constitutional Committee, the need for the lifting of unilateral sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic, the humanitarian situation in Syria and repatriation of refugees to the Arab country.
A first deal was signed in Kazakhstans capital Nur-Sultan, formerly called Astana, arranging for the creation of de-escalation zones across Syria, including in parts of Idlib. The second one that came about in the Russian resort city of Sochi allowed Ankara to bring in a small number of forces to man the observation posts to reinforce de-escalation.
Ankara has, however, been found in default of both the deals by failing to separate terrorists from what it calls "moderate" opposition groups in the Idlib zone and by sending thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into the province in an unprecedented incursion to back the militants.
Elsewhere in the presser, Zarif said he had held talks with his Turkish counterpart about the latest developments in Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen, adding, "Turkey is trying to [help] establish peace in Yemen... Turkey wants a peaceful solution to [the crisis] in Yemen without any war or conflict."
The top Iranian diplomat also noted that he had exchanged views with Cavusoglu about the resumption of bilateral trade relations, which have been suspended following the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Zarif expressed Tehrans readiness to boost medical cooperation with Ankara and said the two sides have succeeded in containing the coronavirus.
He further noted that the Turkish people would soon benefit from Irans gas export to Turkey, which would be in line with the agreements reached between the two countries.
He added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Tehran, but did not provide a date for the visit.
Zarif added that the two countries officials will sign trade agreements during Erdogans visit, without giving further details.
Turkey opposes unilateral sanctions against Iran: Cavusoglu
The Turkish foreign minister, for his part, expressed his countrys opposition to the unilateral US sanctions against Iran.
"We are against the unilateral sanctions imposed against Iran," he said.
The US returned the sanctions against Tehran in 2018 after leaving a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and major world powers. Washingtons departure and snapback of the bans came although the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has been ratified by the United Nations Security Council as a resolution and notwithstanding the JCPOAs multilateral nature.
Ever since quitting the deal, Washington has been trying to scare other countries of the world into abiding by its coercive measures, warning they would face punitive action if they failed to do so.
Commenting on Syria, Cavusoglu stressed the importance of developing cooperation with Iran to help solve the crisis in the Arab country.
He also emphasized that Turkey would hold more consultation with Russia about lasting ceasefire in Libya, saying the Turkish and Russian presidents have agreed on joint action to put an end to violence in the North African country.
Turkey is reportedly planning to set up two permanent military bases in Libya following the Tripoli governments operation to retake areas seized by forces under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar.
Citing military sources, Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, reported earlier this week that Ankara was planning to set up a military base in the strategic Misrata port and also use the al-Watiya air base, located south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
Libya plunged into chaos in 2011 when a popular uprising backed by a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in the North African country - the UN-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by Haftars forces.
SOURCE: PRESS TV
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/18532
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