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Putin, Erdogan discuss situation in Aleppo, intra-Syrian talks in Astana

The sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the close coordination between Russia and Turkey in the interests of promoting settlement of the Syrian conflict, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday
Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan AP Photo/Emrah Gurel
Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan
© AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, discussed the problem of the Syrian settlement with a focus on the situation in Aleppo and completion of the evacuation of civilians and surrendering militants from that city, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday after their telephone conversation.

"The two leaders discussed issues of talks between the Syrian government and the so-called moderate opposition in Astana. The sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the close coordination between Russia and Turkey in the interests of promoting settlement of the Syrian conflict. The two presidents agreed to continue close contacts on this track," the press service said.

Earlier, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in telephone conversations with Putin and Erdogan that his country is ready to host talks between Syria’s conflicting parties. Kazakhstan "supports international efforts towards peace settlement of the conflict in Syria," the press service of the Kazakh leader quoted him as saying.

During today’s telephone conversation, the Russian president once again offered his condolences over the terrorist attack in Kayseri on December 17, when a suicide bomber drove a mined car into a bus with Turkish servicemen. As a result, 13 servicemen were killed. Fifty-five people, including 48 servicemen, were wounded.