French President Emmanuel Macron
Syrian people must have a say on their future, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel following a Syria summit in Istanbul, Macron underlined the importance of a permanent and sustainable cease-fire in Syria's Idlib.
"It is not our business to decide for Syria but we can help Syrians make decisions about their future," Macron said, emphasizing that conditions for Syrians to vote and determine their own future needed to be set up in a constitutional framework.
Macron said restructuring of an inclusive Syria "is very important."
He added that without "a political solution" a repatriation process "cannot be convincing and inclusive".
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
Macron accused the Syrian regime of acting on a logic of conquest in military terms and said it was not a fruitful approach to ensure stability in Syria.
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.
Macron said the use of chemical weapons both in the region and other parts of the world "is unacceptable regardless of who uses it."
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed in the conflict mainly by regime airstrikes targeting opposition-held areas while millions more were displaced. During the conflict, Assad regime was accused many times by various international actors of targeting Syrian civilians with chemical weapons.
The French president also called for a comprehensive investigation on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder and urged for sanctions.
Turkey’s empathy expressed through its humanitarian aid sets an example for the rest of the world, according to a visiting United Nations goodwill ambassador.At “Let’s Talk” -- an event on women’s health in Turkey's Mediterranean province of Antalya -- Russian supermodel and UN envoy Natalia Vodianova told Anadolu Agency on Friday that important actions for women are being taken in Turkey.She said that Turkey’s tremendous efforts for refugees should be recognized as that they provide a “big lesson” on empathy for developing countries.Vodianova stressed the importance of providing reproductive education for girls.Also in Antalya, Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said the event was “wonderful” as it served to break the silence about important women’s health issues.She praised Turkish first lady Emine Erdoğan’s championing women’s issues and particularly stopping child marriages.“We are learning from each other why it’s so important for girls to have information about their bodies so that they can protect themselves, finish their schooling, and have a happy life,” Kanem said.UN led aid convoy to Syria's Rukban camp postponedTurkish Red Crescent to help Bosnia in refugee crisisTurkish food festival begins in Pakistan's capitalTurkish charity expands logistics in neighbor countries
Turkey an example for world on empathy, aid: UN envoy
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
But Khashoggi's body has not been recovered, and Riyadh has yet to explain its shifting narrative on what transpired.
On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
Erdogan on Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".