Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened a summit on Syria's future by saying that large-scale hostilities against militants in Syria are drawing to an end. Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hold a trilateral meeting on the Syria crisis in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Putin's remarks at the opening of the summit on Wednesday were broadcast on Russian state television.
The summit follows a surprise visit to Russia by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, also in Sochi. Putin says that "Russia, Iran and Turkey have prevented a break-up of Syria, kept it from being overrun by international terrorists and warded off a humanitarian catastrophe."
He also expressed hope that agreements that the three countries could reach at the summit would help "strengthen the territorial integrity of Syria."
Intra-Syrian dialogue should include all groups of the country's population and this goal is pursued by the future National Dialogue Congress, Putin said.
"We will exchange our views on how to give a fresh impetus to political settlement based on the UN Security Council resolution 2254. I would like to remind you that the document envisages the launch of intra-Syrian dialogue including all ethnic, religious and political groups of the population ... The Syrian people will determine their future themselves, coordinate principles of the state structure ... That is the aim of the National Dialogue Congress that will gather here, in Sochi," Putin said.
ERDOĞAN SAID CRITICAL DECISION ON SYRIA WILL BE MADE TODAY
Critical decisions will be taken for a solution to the Syrian crisis at a summit between Turkey, Russia and Iran on Wednesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said.
Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the southern Russian city of Sochi, Erdoğan said it was vital for all parties to contribute to a political solution in the crisis that is acceptable for the Syrian people.
