Erdoğan calls for new summit on Syria's Idlib at G20 meeting with Putin

BUENOS AIRES

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 1 that they should hold another summit to discuss the situation in Syria's Idlib province where the two countries are trying to create a sustainable demilitarised zone.

Erdoğan made the suggestion during an hour-long meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"Holding another four-way summit on Idlib is important. I believe that we have different steps that we should take together on Idlib," Erdoğan told journalists, after stressing that he discussed "vital issues" with Putin.

The Syrian government's ally Russia, and Turkey, which backs Syrian rebels, agreed in September to create a demilitarised zone around the insurgent-held northwestern enclave of Idlib.

But exchanges of shelling have been common since then and the first air strikes since the deal hit the area on Nov. 25.

Turkey’s president also met with other leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Erdoğan received Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a meeting that lasted 40 minutes on Dec. 1.

On Nov. 30, Erdoğan had held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for 30 minutes and Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera for 35 minutes.

The Turkish president's meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte lasted nearly an hour.

The meetings were closed to the press.

Erdoğan also attended a cultural event together with other world leaders at the Colón Theatre and they dined in the theatre's Golden Room afterwards.

During the gatherings, the Turkish president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın as well as Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Director, Fahrettin Altun, and Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri, who was also the term president for the summit, welcomed guests, including 19 world leaders and EU representatives.

Around 15,000 people attended the two-day summit, while at least 3,000 journalists followed the event.

The summit's first session was about human values, the global economy, the future of work and women’s empowerment.

The second session covered sustainable development and climate change, while the third session discussed infrastructure for development, energy and a sustainable food future.