Tehran summit constitutes best opportunity to resolve the Syrian issue: Russian envoy

ANKARA

Russia’s Ambassador to Ankara Aleksey Yerkhov has described the upcoming summit in Tehran with the participation of the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran as the “best opportunity” for resolving the Syrian problem amid concerns over a large-scale regime offensive into the rebel-held Idlib province. 

“The summit in Tehran pledges a very good opportunity to resolve the Syrian issue,” Yerkhov told reporters at the Turkish Parliament after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Committee head Volkan Bozkır on Sept. 5.

The ambassador recalled that Turkish and Russian officials were in close contact for discussing developments in northern Syria.

The talks Yerkhov referred to were announced by the Turkish Defense Ministry on Sept. 5. It said the last phase of Turkey-Russia Working Group talks were conducted in the Turkish capital between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4. It added that the group would continue to be in talks in the coming period.

The Turkish, Russian and Iranian presidents will meet in Tehran on Sept. 7 with the situation in the Idlib province to become the focal point of talks. Turkey is urging that a large scale operation into the province would lead to a humanitarian tragedy while Russia and Iran have expressed support for an offensive in order to eliminate jihadists.