The four-nation Istanbul Summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France on Saturday has been widely covered by German media outlets.
The four-nation Istanbul Summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France on Saturday has been widely covered by German media outlets.
Under the headline “the quadripartite summit plans a new start for peace process in Syria”, weekly Der Spiegel’s internet page emphasized the importance of agreement between the leaders for the Syrian constitutional committee’s meeting by the end of this year.
The country's public broadcaster ARD reported that the German, Turkish, Russian and French leaders have defined “permanent ceasefire” in Syria’s Idlib province as their short-term goal.
ARD also underlined that despite doubts among some observers ahead of the meeting, the quartet summit managed to agree on a joint statement, calling for a political solution and stressing that there would be no military solution to the conflict.
Germany’s influential Sueddeutsche Zetiung daily has also highlighted the success of the summit.
“The Syrian summit in Istanbul ended with an agreement on the basic elements of a political process in Syria,” the daily reported.
The four-way summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany and France kicked off in Istanbul on Saturday.The summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Vahdettin Pavilion in the city's Uskudar district, includes Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron.Staffan de Mistura, the UN special Syria envoy, is also present at the summit.During the summit, the participants will address the Syrian conflict in all its aspects, focusing on the situation on the ground, the political process, and ways to harmonize joint efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict.Turkish president meets German, Russian, French leadersTurkish, Russian defense ministers meet for Syria talksTurkish foreign minister met Russian counterpart ahead of Syria summitThe leaders will also discuss the Sept. 17 agreement between Ankara and Moscow to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib are to remain in areas where they are already present, while Russia and Turkey carry out joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing a resumption of fighting.On Oct. 10, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups had completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the Idlib demilitarized zone.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.UN led aid convoy to Syria's Rukban camp postponedRefugees in Syria’s Idlib struggle with rains, floodingUN body welcomes upcoming Istanbul Summit on Syria
Four-way Syria summit kicks off in Istanbul
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held separate meetings Saturday with German, Russian and French leaders ahead of a four-way Syria summit to be held in Istanbul.Erdoğan's closed-door meetings with Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron took place at the Vahdettin Pavilion in Istanbul's Uskudar district.No further details of the gatherings were provided.The four-way summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany and France is set to kick off later Saturday.Video: Erdoğan, Merkel meet ahead of Syria summitStaffan de Mistura, the UN special Syria envoy, will also be present.During the summit, the participants will comprehensively discuss the Syrian conflict, focusing on the situation on the ground, the political process, and ways to harmonize joint efforts to find a lasting solution.The leaders will also discuss the Sept. 17 agreement between Ankara and Moscow to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.Video: Erdoğan meets Putin ahead of Syria summitUnder the deal, opposition groups in Idlib are to remain in areas where they are already present, while Russia and Turkey carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent renewed fighting.On Oct. 10, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups had completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the Idlib demilitarized zone.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Turkish, Russian defense ministers meet for Syria talksSyria summit to discuss ‘permanent cease-fire' in IdlibTurkish foreign minister met Russian counterpart ahead of Syria summit
Turkish president meets German, Russian, French leaders