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Turkish FM: "Ankara, Moscow seek to ease tensions in Idlib"

04 February 2020 14:27 (UTC +04:00)

Russia needs to undertake responsibility to prevent attacks by the Syrian regime, and Turkey will not tolerate such aggression, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday, APA reports citing Daily Sabah.

"We strive to end these conflicts (in Syria) with Russia just as we did in Astana and Sochi. It is not possible for us to tolerate attacks targeting us, we have given the necessary response in Idlib and will continue to do so," Cavusoglu said at the Asia Anew meeting in the capital Ankara on Tuesday.

The foreign minister noted that he told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Russia needs to prevent the regime as it shored up flagrant attacks targeting the Turkish military in northwestern Idlib province.

He continued by highlighting that the Astana and Sochi agreements have been seriously damaged as a result of recent attacks.

"Military deployments to Idlib are meant to strengthen Turkish observation posts," Cavusoglu said, adding that they aim to monitor violations.

The Foreign Minister also dismissed Russia's claims that they "cannot fully control the regime," saying that the statement does not reflect the truth.

"Recent developments show that Syrian regime is supporting a military solution to the crisis, rather than a political one," Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu spoke with his Russian counterpart following a Syrian regime attack on Idlib earlier Monday which killed seven Turkish soldiers and a civilian contractor. Russia is a key ally of the Syrian regime.