Safe Return of Syrian Refugees Key Priority for Russia, Iran, Syria, Turkey: Lavrov
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Assisting in efforts for a safe return home of Syrian refugees has been highlighted as a key principle during a four-party meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey on Wednesday, Russia's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said.
In opening negotiations on Syrian settlement with his counterparts from Iran, Syria, and Turkey, Lavrov emphasized the shared commitment to contribute to a safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their permanent residences in Syria, ensuring their right to receive support.
A four-party meeting among the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria, and Turkey is currently underway in Moscow. The agenda includes discussions on normalizing relations between Turkey and Syria, addressing humanitarian issues, combating terrorism, advancing the political process, and facilitating the return of refugees. Bilateral meetings are also scheduled.
Relations between Ankara and Damascus deteriorated in 2011 when the Syrian conflict started, coinciding with an influx of Syrian refugees into Turkey. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed.
According to Lavrov, the restoration of transport and logistics ties between Syria and Turkey is a crucial item on the agenda for the four-party talks.
Lavrov expressed the importance of discussing the resumption of trade and economic cooperation without any barriers, along with the restoration of disrupted transport and logistics ties between neighboring countries.
On his part, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced an agreement to establish a coordination center in Syria to combat terrorism.
"We must eliminate terrorists," Akar stated, as reported by TV100 channel on Wednesday. He added, "We cannot tolerate an additional flow of refugees (from Syria), so we must prevent it. Our presence in Syria is crucial. We are working intensively with ministries to improve living conditions in the regions where we are present. We discussed the need for joint work and agreed to establish a coordination center on Syrian soil."
Akar did not provide specific details regarding the participation and opening date of the coordination center. Efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus involved consultations between the defense ministers of Russia, Syria, and Turkey in Moscow on December 28, 2022.
During the consultations, an agreement was reached to establish a trilateral commission. Subsequently, a meeting between top diplomats was anticipated to explore the possibility of talks between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Bashar Assad of Syria. Later reports indicated Iran's involvement in the consultations at the level of foreign ministries.
