Turkey, Russia, Iran Vow to Boost Cooperation on Syria: Joint Statement
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkey, Russia and Iran have decided to bolster cooperation in Syria, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov said Wednesday.
Reading a joint statement following the second day of third round peace talks over the Syrian conflict in the capital Astana, Kamaldinov said the parties emphasized their determination to strengthen the ceasefire in Syria.
"They agreed on reporting ceasefire violations [in Syria], ensuring a decrease in breaches and bolstering the effectiveness of the trilateral monitoring mechanism," he said.
Kamaldinov said they also agreed that Iran would join Turkey and Russia as an "official" guarantor of the ceasefire, Anadolu News Agency reported.
The Astana talks, which focused on the ceasefire that came into effect on Dec. 30, have been brokered by Turkey, which backs the opposition, and Russia and Iran, who support the Syrian government.
Following the Dec. 30 ceasefire, the first round of Astana talks were held on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. There, Turkey, Russia and Iran established a trilateral mechanism to observe and ensure full compliance with the ceasefire in Syria.
Kamaldinov said the next meeting in Astana will be held on May 3 and May 4. He added a preparatory meeting will be held in Tehran on April 17 and April 19.
He said the parties agreed to work on protecting historical artifacts in Syria, which are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
