President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan holds hands with Russian, Iranian counterparts
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set to attend a trilateral summit that will be held in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sept. 7, according to presidential sources.
Erdoğan is expected to meet his Iranian and Russian counterparts during the summit, where they will discuss Syria.
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
The Kremlin said nearly two weeks ago that Russian President Vladimir Putin may take part in a meeting with Erdoğan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the beginning of September. The three leaders met in April in Ankara, where they discussed developments in Syria.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday hailed his country’s relations with Turkey."Turkey is a leading country among those we have good relations with," he told Iran’s state television.The top Iranian diplomat said Tehran would cooperate with Ankara to put off wildfire in the Iraqi part of Hour al-Azim wetland.He said his country would hold talks with Turkey and Iraq in an effort to resolve environment and water-related troubles in the region.Zarif said recent economic difficulties in Turkey were triggered by the psychological atmosphere created by the U.S.Turkey-U.S. relations took a nosedive on Aug. 1, when the Trump administration announced sanctions on Turkey’s interior and justice ministers after Ankara refused to release an American pastor who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.On Aug. 10, Trump upped the ante by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.In response, Turkey raised tariffs on several U.S.-made goods, including alcohol and tobacco products as well as vehicles.Political tensions between Ankara and Washington had sparked worries in markets, but the Turkish lira has staged a recovery last week, after positive messages from European capitals and Qatar’s decision to invest $15 billion in Turkey.Iranian parliament removes finance minister from officeIran defence minister Amir Hatami arrives in SyriaAmerica is waging 'psychological war' against IranRussia says new US sanctions will add to tensionsBolton says US sanctions to stay until Russia changes behaviourRussia says all options on table for response to US sanctions
Iran foreign minister hails relations with Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia's relations with Turkey are becoming deeper and richer, in a meeting in Moscow with Turkey’s top diplomat along with its defense minister and intelligence chief."Our relations with Turkey are becoming deeper and more meaningful, becoming deeper in the field of economic cooperation, in addressing a number of issues related to regional issues," Putin said during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Hakan Fidan, chief of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).In the nationally televised meeting, Putin also mentioned the "regular character" of contacts with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Russia and Turkey along with other countries have made serious progress in resolving the Syrian crisis, Putin added."Thanks to the efforts of our countries with the involvement of other interested states, in particular, I mean Iran, our cooperation with the UN, with European countries, with the United States -- we've managed to make serious progress in resolving the Syrian crisis," he said.Turkish top officials meet Russian defense minister
Putin: Turkey-Russia regional, economic cooperation on the rise
Turkey and Russia need to continue working together to pursue the cease-fire in Syria, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Friday, warning that a possible military solution in the northwestern city of Idlib would be a "disaster."Speaking to reporters in Moscow after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Çavuşoğlu said: “Preserving the de-escalation zone in Idlib, Syria is important in both humanitarian respects and the fight against terrorism."Stressing that more than 3 million civilians live in Idlib, he said: “A military solution there would be a disaster. It would be a disaster not only for the Idlib region but also for the future of Syria."“Separating the civilians from the combatants in Idlib is important for everyone, but a solution through force would lead to a new wave of refugees and a humanitarian catastrophe," he warned."A solution by force in Idlib would undermine the trust between Russia and Turkey as well as the trust of the cease-fire participants.""It is necessary to work in the Astana format on the [existing] cease-fire, it is necessary to work on promoting the political process,” he said, referring to the process that began in Astana, Kazakhstan.Representatives of the guarantor countries for the Syria cease-fire -- Turkey, Russia, and Iran -- will meet with Staffan de Mistura, the UN’s special Syria envoy, on this point in the near future, added Çavuşoğlu. The issue will also be discussed by the three countries' presidents in Tehran in September, he said.Çavuşoğlu also said the political process in Syria should be started as soon as possible.Stating that a list of member candidates for a constitutional committee was summited, Çavuşoğlu said: “Establishing a constitutional committee immediately is important for Syria’s future. We back this process.”The situation in Idlib is also set to top a meeting between the Russian and Turkish foreign and defense ministers and intelligence chiefs.Located near the Turkish border, this May Idlib was designated a “de-escalation zone” where acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.UN officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.Turkish operation in Syria foiled PKK/YPG terror plotsDisplaced Syrians in Idlib mark Eid despite hardshipsVisa-free regimeRussia and Turkey have agreed to establish a mechanism to restore a visa-free regime between the two countries, Russia’s Lavrov also announced.Russia is ready to lift visa restrictions for the Turkish holders of special and service passports as well as for drivers engaged in cargo transportation between the two countries, Lavrov told reporters after meeting with Çavuşoğlu."We have confirmed Russia's readiness to hold talks on simplifying the travel regime for certain categories of Turkish citizens on a reciprocal basis, and we will do this in the near future,” said Lavrov.“We agreed to establish a mechanism for consultations on the development of agreements on this subject."Russia says all options on table for response to US sanctions'Strategic partner'Calling Russia a “strategic partner,” Çavuşoğlu stressed the importance of further developing bilateral ties with Russia. “We will both improve bilateral relations between the two countries for [providing] stability and economic development in the region and we will boost our cooperation on regional matters,” he said. Without naming any country, he said that some countries and individuals were jealous of Turkey and Russia’s close cooperation and friendship. Çavuoğlu also expressed pleasure at the growing number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey. “We will be very happy to welcome some 6 million our Russian friends to our country this year,” he said. 2019 will be declared the Year of Culture and Tourism between the two countries, Çavuşoğlu said, expressing hope that this will serve to attract even more Russian tourists. 
Military solution in Syria’s Idlib would be ‘disaster’: Turkish FM