In a bid to seek a political solution to resolve the Syria conflict the foreign ministers of Russia Iran and Turkey held talks in Moscow
MOSCOW, Russia – In a bid to seek a political solution to resolve the Syria conflict, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey held talks in Moscow.
The ministers began talks by condemning the recent retaliatory attacks by the U. S., Britain and France which came in response to the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, which the west blamed on the Syrian administration.
At the meeting on Saturday, all three countries agreed that a political solution should be sought despite Western missile strikes.
Addressing a joint press conference post the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said foreign intervention could inhibit the peace process.
He added, « Our aim is to find the political solution, to reach the political solution in Syria. I agree with Zarif that the best solution is political solution and any military solution is illegal and unsustainable. »
Meanwhile, his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said, « We have to acknowledge the ongoing attempts to obstruct efforts to improve dialogue between Syrians. It turns out that while we are together creating some progress, some of our colleagues are trying to destroy the results of joint constructive efforts, not paying attention to this or to violations of international law. I refer in particular to the US-British-French action against Syria on April 14. »
Lavrov even slammed the U. S. directly and said, the United States is trying to divide Syria.
He said that the recent U. S.-led missile strikes on Syria « seriously aggravated the situation,” and added that statements about supporting the territorial integrity of Syria « are only words that, apparently, cover plans for reformatting the Middle East and plans for dividing Syria into parts. »
Meanwhile, Iran repeated its claims that western intervention was damaging and the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, « We have already condemned the use of chemical weapons regardless of the victims or culprits.”
He added, “But we do not believe that taking the law into somebody’s own hands for political gains can do anything but further complicate the situation. »
Both Russia and Iran back the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even though Ankara has been at odds with Damascus over several issues.
For over two years now, the three countries have been working closely to end the seven-year civil war which has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens.
