Five Arab states, Iran, Turkey, and Russia urge political solution in Syria in joint statement

Five Arab countries along with Iran, Turkey and Russia said in a joint statement that a political solution was needed to stop military operations and protect civilians in Syria after the the 22nd Doha Forum.

Sunday December 08 2024 01:43 am

Duvar English

After the 22nd Doha Forum Qatari capital on Dec. 7, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar issued a joint statement calling for a “political solution.”

In a joint statement released by the countries' foreign ministers after they met in Doha, they said the crisis in Syria posed a threat to regional and international security.

Fidan meets Russian, Iranian counterparts

In a meeting during the Doha Forum, Turkish, Iranian, and Russian foreign ministers underscored the importance of restarting the political process in Syria according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources who spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA).

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended the meeting, as did his Iranian and Russian counterparts, Abbas Araghchi and Sergey Lavrov. The discussions focused on the situation in Syria, with sources describing the meeting as "constructive."

Minister of Foreign Affairs @HakanFidan attended the Astana-format meeting at the 22nd Doha Forum, with his Iranian and Russian counterparts. 🇹🇷🇮🇷🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/1lA7HIg4XL
— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) December 7, 2024

Sources reported that the meeting emphasized the importance of restarting the political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, while also reaffirming commitment to Syria's territorial integrity and political unity.

"It's inadmissible to allow the terrorist group to take control of the lands in violation of agreements," said Lavrov after the meeting.

Russia, a long-term ally of Syria, intervened in 2015 to prop up Damascus during Syria's civil war, which began in 2011.

"...we help the Syrian army to counter the attacks of terrorists," Lavrov added.

Doha talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also conducted a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the forum. He met with Geir O. Pedersen, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, and Bedir Camus, head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission.

Fidan also held talks with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Mali's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop, and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported that during the meeting with Hussein, both parties agreed to collaborate closely on issues related to Syria.

Additionally, Fidan engaged in discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. The Turkish Foreign Ministry later shared on X that Fidan addressed the latest developments in Syria with his counterparts from Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as with a Russian representative, during the forum.

What happened?

Since the jihadist rebels' sweep into Aleppo a week ago, Syrian government defenses have crumbled at dizzying speed as rebels seized a string of major cities and reignited a rebellion in places it had long seemed dead.

Syrian government forces abandoned the key city of Homs on Dec. 7 after less than a day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule dangling by a thread with insurgents also advancing towards the capital Damascus.