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Turkey's Erdoğan, Putin 'likely' to meet on Jan. 23

Turkish president also looks ahead to planned trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran

Ersin Çelik
16:12 - 15/01/2019 Salı
Update: 16:15 - 15/01/2019 Salı
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 Russian President Vladimir Putin & Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Russian President Vladimir Putin & Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday that he would "most likely" meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next week, on Jan. 23.

"I will hold a one-to-one meeting with Mr. Putin," Erdoğan told reporters in parliament.

Erdoğan also said they plan to hold a trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran.

Following a meeting last September between Erdoğan and Putin, the two sides agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are prohibited -- in Idlib, Syria.

Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib are to remain in areas where they are already present, while Russia and Turkey conduct joint patrols in the area to prevent renewed fighting.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.

Erdoğan also said that Turkey's housing development administration could help make the planned safe zone in northern Syria livable.

He called on the U.S.-led coalition forces to support Turkey on developing the safe zone, saying the area could help hold back immigration.

In a phone call with Erdoğan this week, the U.S. president reaffirmed the American troop pullout from Syria, as well as a 32-kilometer (20-mile) safe zone in Syria to be established by Turkey.

#Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
#safe zone
#Syria
#Vladimir Putin
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