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Conflict in Syria

Russia maintains contact with Kurds to establish dialogue with Turkey, says envoy

"Regretfully, there have been no concrete agreements as of yet," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

NUR-SULTAN, June 16. /TASS/. Moscow maintains contact with Kurdish representatives to establish a dialogue with Turkey, but so far there are no specific agreements between the sides, Alexander Lavrentyev, Russia's special presidential envoy for Syria, told a news conference after an international conference on the Astana Syrian peace process on Thursday.

"As you know, we maintain contact with Kurdish representatives, trying to encourage them to work constructively, to meet each other halfway. We want the Kurds to continue dialogue with the central government in Damascus. <...> Regretfully, there have been no concrete agreements as of yet," he said.

Referring to what he called a reasonable idea, Lavrentyev also mentioned the possibility of working with the Kurdish population to prevent illicit acts by Kurdish units against the Turkish military. "The possibility exists of somehow working with a category of Kurds who favor living in a united and indivisible Syria. It seems to us that it would be reasonable to carry out such work and thwart any illicit activity by Kurdish units <...> against Turkey and Turkish military," he added.

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Syrian conflict

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