Withdrawal process of heavy weapons in Idlib
The demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib has been formed and all heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
In a written, the ministry said Turkey has realized its responsibilities as a guarantor country of the recently signed Sochi agreement.
"Our activities in Idlib as part of the agreement are continuing without slowing down in order to secure sustainable and permanent peace," the statement added.
The agreement dictated that heavy weapons, tanks, rocket systems and mortars of all opposition groups would be withdrawn by Oct. 10, and the zone will be monitored by coordinated Turkish and Russian patrols.
Following a meeting in Sochi last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish the Idlib demilitarized zone.
Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.
Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.
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.
Russia's top diplomat on Wednesday said Turkey's efforts to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib were "progressing well" as an October 15 deadline draws near for the completion of the task. "The deadline for demilitarized zones to be fully functional expires on October 15. A day or two do not play any role, in any case, the quality of these works is more important", Sergey Lavrov told reporters in a news conference in the capital Moscow following his meeting with the Andorran counterpart Maria Ubach.He said Turkey played the main role in the creation of the demilitarized zone, adding: "The process is progressing quite well."Following a meeting in Sochi last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish the Idlib demilitarized zone.Syrian opposition’s arms removal proves trust in TurkeyAnkara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.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.Allies deliberately sabotaged Turkey's safe zones proposal: Erdoğan Netanyahu visitLavrov also confirmed that the Russian administration and Israeli government officials were working to set a date for an expected visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Russia.Commenting on Israel's intention to declare sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Lavrov said that the legal status of the area has been defined by the UN Security Council resolutions."To change the status means to violate directly the Security Council resolutions," he said.
Lavrov says Idlib demilitarization 'progressing well'
The withdrawal of heavy weapons by Syrian opposition in northwestern Idlib proves the opposition’s trust in Turkey, one of its member said on Tuesday.Yaser Ferhan, a member of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, said the weapons withdrawal manifests the success of alliance that opposition made with Turkey.Ferhan’s remarks came a day after the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups completed the withdrawal of all their heavy weapons from Idlib frontlines.He said the removal of weapons and Turkey's fortification of its observation posts in Idlib will provide many benefits to the people of the region.He said that these moves prevented Bashar al-Assad regime and its allies’ further attacks on the region.Ferhan also hailed the recently signed Sochi agreement between Turkey and Russia."The implementation of Sochi agreement will bring security to the people of the region," he said.Following a meeting in Sochi last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Syria’s last opposition stronghold.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the "stabilization" of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.Mostly controlled by the Free Syrian Army, Idlib is located just across the border from Turkey’s southern province of Hatay.Syrian opposition completes withdrawal of heavy weapons from Idlib frontlineHeavy weapons being removed from Idlib: Opposition
Syrian opposition’s arms removal proves trust in Turkey
Turkey will focus on high value-added products with the new economic program, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.Turkey's new economic program is based on three fundamental pillars: stabilization, discipline and transformation."We can see that with the precautions that have been taken, there are signs of balance in our economy," Erdoğan said."The foundations of the Turkish economy are stable. The Turkish economy and banking system will not be brought down, because they are resistant to shocks," he added."You know that there are speculative and manipulative attacks targeting the Turkish economy. The aim of these attacks is to endeavor to try to make us accept decisions that contradict our national interests in matters concerning the survival of our country," Erdoğan said.Turkey's benchmark stock index up at openIMF slashes global growth outlookAllies sabotaged safe zones in SyriaPresident Erdogan said Turkey's proposal to build safe zones in Syria was "deliberately sabotaged," especially by allies."Our 'safe zones' proposal that could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives and managed to prevent displacing millions of Syrians was deliberately sabotaged, especially by our allies," Erdoğan said."The bill for this deadlock is firstly being paid by the Syrian people, then by neighboring countries like Turkey," he said.Mostly controlled by the Free Syrian Army, Idlib is located just across the border from Turkey’s southern province of Hatay.Turkey, US begin joint training on patrol activities in Syria's ManbijFollowing a meeting in Sochi last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Syria’s last opposition stronghold.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the "stabilization" of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.Syrian airspace engulfing entire region into war'EU failed to help Turkey with Syrians'Turkey has spent some $33 billion helping refugees from the Syrian civil war, while the European Union has broken its pledges of help, said Turkey’s president on Tuesday.The EU “was supposed to allocate to international organizations, not us, €6 billion [$6.87 billion], using a 3 3 installment system,” he stated.But, he added, “they only gave out €1.7 billion [$1.94 billion]. Despite all that, we continue our services."The president also said Turkey has footage of refugees being left for dead in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas."I say it sadly, the international community failed to fulfill its responsibility to find a solution to the refugee issues," said Erdoğan, on the last day of a two-day visit to Hungary.
Allies deliberately sabotaged Turkey's safe zones proposal: Erdoğan
The Syrian opposition and other anti-regime forces on Monday completed the withdrawal of all their heavy weapons from Idlib frontlines in northwestern Syria.Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik news that Ankara and Moscow had agreed on the borders of Idlib’s demilitarized zone."The borders of the demilitarized zone have been already determined. Very good contacts, cooperation, ties have been established between the military of Turkey and Russia," Vershinin said.Video: Opposition heavy weapons removed from IdlibFollowing a meeting in Sochi last month between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib, Syria’s last opposition stronghold.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the "stabilization" of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.PKK is hiding behind US flags in Manbij: Syrian Turkmen Council headMostly controlled by the Free Syrian Army, Idlib is located just across the border from Turkey’s southern province of Hatay.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.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others were displaced, according to UN officials.Galeri: Withdrawal process of heavy weapons in Idlib
Syrian opposition completes withdrawal of heavy weapons from Idlib frontline