Lavrov: Turkey has not fully implemented the Idlib agreement

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that Turkey has not fully fulfilled the Idlib agreement signed between Putin and Erdoğan on 17 September 2018.

In an interview with Kuwaiti news agency KUNA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized Turkey for failing to fully implement the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in Idlib signed by Putin and Erdoğan on 17 September 2018.

Lavrov explained that the Russian-Turkish memorandum, which includes the need to establish a buffer zone in Idlib and the elimination of all radical groups, has not yet been fully implemented.

Lavrov said he called on the "Turkish partners" to fulfill their responsibility to stabilize the situation in Idlib according to the agreement. It was important that it would not be allowed if, on the pretext of the ceasefire agreed with Turkey, "the terrorists reinforce their presence". Neither the erection of a demilitarized zone nor the delivery of heavy weapons was complete, he added.

Lavrov noted that the “Astana track” of Syria proved effective, recalling that the decisions made in the framework of Astana, which led to the establishments of reduced-tension areas and create conditions under which refugees can voluntarily return home.

“We are working actively with our Iranian and Turkish partners to implement the resolutions of the Syrian national dialogue conference,” Lavrov said, adding that issues of ensuring the stability of the situation in Syria, pushing forwards the process of political settlement and launching the work of the constitutional committee were discussed during the summit of the guarantor states (Russia, Iran, Turkey) held in Russia’s Sochi on February 14.