MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Ankara has confirmed that the Syrian crisis cannot be resolved without Russia, Russian president’s envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday after talks with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Umit Yalcin.
"They [the Turkish side] said they are interested in more active contacts with us on all Middle East, especially Syria, affairs," he said. "They confirmed what the Turkish president had said that it is impossible to find solutions to the regional problems and settle the Syrian crisis without Russia."
"It is natural that simultaneously we should do everything possible to make our common struggle against IS and Jebhat al-Nusra terrorists maximum effective," Bogdanov said.
Moscow explains the details of Aleppo operation
According to Bogdanov, Russia has clarified the tasks of the humanitarian operation in Syria’s Aleppo to the Turkish side.
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"Naturally, we discussed it [Russia’s humanitarian operation in Aleppo - TASS]. We explained our tasks to them," Bogdanov said. "We explained in detail what is being done and how it is being done. The operation is being conducted in coordination with Syria’s legitimate authorities, in contacts with the United Nations and humanitarian envoys in Damascus and Geneva."
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on July 28 that Moscow and Damascus were beginning a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo. Three corridors were opened for civilians and militants who have agreed to lay down arms. Later, four more corridors were opened for civilians to leave Aleppo. One more corridor is meant for militants carrying weapons.
The talks were productive
Consultations with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Umit Yalcin were open and detailed, Bogdanov said.
"The discussion on Syria held with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Umit Yalcin was detailed and open. It lasted for more than four hours. The consultations took place ahead of a summit meeting. It was the Turkish partners’ request to "synchronize the watches," the Russian deputy foreign minister said.
"We set forth our approaches, assessments and thoughts about the military, political and humanitarian situation in Syria forcibly and in detail," the Russian diplomat stressed.
"We emphasized that everything what we are doing fully complies with the agreements reached by the International Syria Support Group, which comprises both Russia and Turkey. The UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on the political process in Syria is most important. We have confirmed that we are fully committed to this resolution," Bogdanov said.
"The document should be implemented. It is natural that simultaneously we should do everything possible to make our common struggle against IS and Jebhat al-Nusra terrorists maximum effective," he added.