File photo:Foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran
The foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran will meet in Geneva on Tuesday as part of efforts to find a political solution to the civil war in Syria, diplomatic sources said Monday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts at the UN office and they are expected to announce the committee which will form Syria’s new constitution, said the sources, who refused to be named due to restriction on talking to the media.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will chair the meeting.
During the Syrian peace conference in late January in the Russian city of Sochi, the formation of a committee to develop recommendations to amend the Syrian constitution was agreed upon.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia, Turkey and Iran will present a list of candidates for the Syrian Constitutional Committee to the UN.
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on protesters with unexpected ferocity.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others displaced, according to U.N. officials.
A new program is aiming to use sports to build bridges between Syrian and Turkish children in the southern Hatay province.The Hatay-based Syrian Agency for Rescue (SAR) with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) launched "Promote dialogue and social adaptation through football" project.Within the framework of the project, 140 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17 were brought together in the field. Half of them are Syrian refugees in Turkey.Syrian opposition vows support for Turkish op east of EuphratesPKK/PYD terrorists in Syria will be buried in trenches they dig: ErdoğanCoaches train the teams which play football thrice a week.Mohammad Kindawi, the head of SAR, told Anadolu Agency that the project aims to improve communication between Turkish and Syrian children through football.Kindawi said they want Syrian children to adapt into Turkish culture."We are building a bridge of friendship between Turkish and Syrian children through sports," Kindawi said."At the same time, sports keeps children away from bad habits," Kindawi said, adding that the project will last three months.Both Turkish and Syrian children expressed their happiness at being able to play games and form lasting friendships in the scope of the project.US warns Syrian opposition against backing Turkish opSyrian opposition backs Turkey’s planned operation
Turkish, Syrian children build friends through football
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday said he told U.S. President Donald Trump that if Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists are not withdrawn from the east of the Euphrates that Turkey would “remove them.”The military operation east of the Euphrates could start "at any moment," he said at a mass opening ceremony at Mevlana Square in central Konya province."We can start our operation any moment now in the Syrian territory at any place especially along the 500-kilometer border, without harming the U.S soldiers," said Erdoğan.He said the army has completed preparations for the planned operation, adding that Turkey will do "what is necessary" regarding terror corridors east of the Euphrates River.Erdogan reiterated that Turkey will not allow a terror corridor along its borders."I’m not just saying this ... Now it’s time for the area east of the Euphrates. Listen, those who are protecting terrorists in the region: You're making a mistake. Let's give up [protecting them]," the president warned.Erdogan said Turkey's fight against terrorism in Syria will continue until fresh elections are held and a comprehensive political solution is reached in the country.A possible mission east of the Euphrates, which Turkey’s leadership has been suggesting for months, would follow two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 – Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch – both meant to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment, Erdoğan says