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Lavrov: Russia and Turkey team up to separate terrorists from opposition in Idlib

Russia's military alongside their Syrian and Turkish counterparts are taking practical steps, the top diplomat noted

ABU DHABI, March 6. /TASS/. Russian and Turkish militaries are taking practical steps to separate the units of Syrian armed opposition from terrorists in Idlib, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"Our military service members alongside Syrian counterparts and Turkish counterparts are taking practical steps which might allow implementing this decision," Lavrov said.

On September 17, 2018, the Russian and Turkish presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at their talks in Russia’s Sochi agreed to establish by October 15 a demilitarized zone in Idlib, which should be 15-20 kilometers deep along the line disengaging Syria’s government forces and armed opposition. Nonetheless, Ankara asked for extra time and for a delay in the beginning of the joint patrolling in Idlib, citing own inability to ensure security.