Türkiye, Russia, Iran call for political settlement in Syria

Participants of the Astana format Russia, Iran and Türkiye, as well as Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have called for a political settlement of the situation in Syria.

In a joint statement issued after the discussion of the situation in Syria in Qatar, the parties assured that they are ready to “continue consultations and coordination in order to find an effective solution to the Syrian crisis, which would satisfy the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability and justice,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The document emphasizes that the Syrian crisis does not pose a threat to regional and international security.

Earlier, a meeting at the level of the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey was held in Doha.

“During the conversation, which was then joined by Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary General's special envoy for Syria, serious concern was expressed about the dangerous escalation in the Syrian Arab Republic due to the large-scale sortie of armed groups in northwestern Syria,” the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

“The ministers stressed the mood to intensify the consolidated efforts of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process in the interests of the earliest stabilization of the situation in the SAR and agreed to remain in close contact to this end,” the report said.

It noted that the parties reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Last week in Syria, anti-government formations became more active and quickly took control of a number of settlements in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. The day before, Israeli media reported that the Syrian army was withdrawing from the Quneitra province bordering Israel. It was also reported about the retreat of Syrian units from the provinces of Daraa and Suwayda in the south-west of the country.

The Astana format is a diplomatic initiative established in 2017 to address the Syrian crisis through multilateral negotiations. It involves Türkiye, Russia, and Iran as guarantor countries and includes participation from the Syrian government and opposition groups. The UN and international organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross also engage as observers.

Key goals of the format include maintaining Syria's territorial integrity, combating terrorism, facilitating political dialogue, and managing humanitarian aid. Recently, discussions have addressed broader regional concerns, such as Israeli military actions in Syria and Gaza and the threats posed by terrorism and separatist movements. Neighbouring countries like Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon sometimes participate as observers due to their proximity and stakes in Syrian stability​.

The format is recognized for producing agreements, such as de-escalation zones in Syria, but has faced challenges, including limited progress in resolving the conflict's political dimensions​

By Khagan Isayev