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Belarusian leader joins Russia-Iran-Turkey talks in Sochi

Lukashenko’s participation in the summit meeting has nothing to do with the Syrian settlement issue, the Kremlin said

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

SOCHI, February 14. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko joined late on Thursday a meeting of the Russian, Iranian and Turkish leaders, Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained to journalists that Lukashenko’s participation in the summit meeting has nothing to do with the Syrian settlement issue. "This is not related to the Astana format, they just took an opportunity of being all together in the same city," he said.

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Peskov said the Russian president had envisaged "such a possibility for Lukashenko to communicate with his colleagues availing of his stay in Sochi at the same time".

Peskov also said earlier that on Thursday, Putin will continue talks with his Belarusian counterpart. On Wednesday, the two leaders already had talks and also hit ski slopes in Sochi. He also told reporters on the same day that the two leaders would continue contacts on February 14 and even on February 15.

After the three-way summit on Thursday, the Russian, Turkish and Iranian presidents passed a joint statement of 17 points that summarize the developments in Sochi since their previous meeting on September 7, 2018. The presidents resolved to strengthen coordination in line with the existing agreements. The Turkish president offered to host a next three-party summit on Syria.

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Vladimir Putin Syria Belarus Iran Dmitry Peskov Turkey Alexander Lukashenko Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hassan Rouhani

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