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Russia expects Turkey to fulfill obligations concerning Idlib de-escalation zone

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is "highly difficult"

MOSCOW, February 7. /TASS/. Moscow expects Ankara to fulfill its obligations concerning the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria, including the establishment of a demilitarized zone, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.

"Given the highly difficult situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, we expect our Turkish partners to step up efforts to finally turn the tide and fully implement their obligations under the Sochi agreements on Idlib made on September 17, 2018, including the establishment of a demilitarized zone," she said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at their Sochi meeting on September 17, 2018, agreed to create a 15-20 kilometers wide demilitarized zone along the line of contact in the Idlib province. However, Ankara asked for additional time before the launch of joint patrols, as Turkey was unable to ensure security.