Disagreement persists as Idlib negotiations continue

Sarah Rashad

Russia and Turkey have been in talks for three weeks on the situation in the Syrian city of Idlib. The Russian and Turkish officials along with the defense ministers of the two countries discussed options for a solution to the Idlib crisis. The Russian-backed Syrian army has launched a military campaign to liberate the city from the armed militias.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar discussed the developments in Idlib in a phone call, a statement released by the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 13.

Although the details of the discussions were not revealed, leaked indications exposed disagreement between Turkey and Russia over the withdrawal of the Syrian army from the freed areas.

Abu Sobhi Nahas, head of the political office of the National Liberation Front, said on Saturday that Russia had stipulated the presence of the Syrian army in the freed areas in the western countryside of Hama.

Meanwhile, Syrian activist Omar Rahmoun said that Russia and the Syrian government would have the final say in the ongoing negotiations, citing that Turkey’s proxies are weak in Syria.

“The Syrian state will win the situation as the militias realize that the instatement of the state sovereignty is the best option,” Rahmoum told THE REFERENCE.

Rahmoun said that Idlib is awaiting an all-out military solution to eliminate armed militias there.