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Ankara proposes new tri-party formats to settle Syrian crisis

Turkey’s initiatives came after Saudi Arabia refused to work in the four-party format

CAIRO, November 4 (Itar-Tass) —— Ankara has proposed to create a new, tri-party format involving Turkey, Russia, and Iran to settle the crisis in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Russian president’s Middle East envoy Mikhail Bogdanov said on Sunday.

“Turkey has come out with an initiative of creating groups of three on the Syrian settlement,” he noted. “Such groups of three are Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. There is information that an issue of another group of three – Turkey, Iran, Russia – is being considered.”

“We hail any formats of work and are ready to take part in such a group of three,” the Russian diplomat stressed. “We believe that any dialogue formats are positive tools to find mutually acceptable political solutions to the very difficult problems that are now facing Syria.”

According to Bogdanov, earlier Egypt came out with a similar initiative to form a group of four on the Syrian settlement that might include also Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Turkey’s initiatives came after Saudi Arabia refused to work in the four-party format.