President Putin stresses need to activate political process to solve crisis in Syria

Ankara, SANA- The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has stressed the need to activate the political process to solve the crisis in Syria within the framework of the Geneva talks and Astana meetings.

In a joint press conference with Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara on Monday Putin said: “We hope that the political process will be activated within the framework of the Geneva talks and the Astana meetings;  we have agreed to hold the eighth round of Astana meetings next week, especially after the liberation of  most of the Syrian territories,”

“ We will continue to work to stop the hostilities, reduce tension and increase mutual trust between the parties.”

Putin pointed out that there is a preparatory process underway for holding the Syrian National Dialogue Conference by the beginning of next year.

President Putin, during his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad at the Hmeimim-based Military Base on Monday, stressed his country’s determination to continue providing all possible support to Syria until the restoration of security and stability to all Syrian territories.

On US President Donald Trump’s decision on al-Quds (Jerusalem), Putin said that this decision does not contribute to stability in the region but rather complicates the situation regarding the settlement in the Middle East.

He considered that a solution between the Palestinians and the Israeli occupation entity can be achieved only through direct negotiations in accordance with the previously agreed upon UN resolutions.

Ghossoun/