Putin meets Assad ahead of Syria talks with Turkey and Iran

Russian leader Putin met with embattled Syrian counterpart Assad in Sochi ahead of talks on Wednesday with leaders from Turkey and Iran aimed at re-booting the peace process in the conflict-torn country
Agencies
Tuesday, 21 November 2017 22:11

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for three hours of talks to lay the groundwork for a new push by Moscow to end Syria's conflict.

Putin met with Assad shortly before a trilateral meeting of the Russian, Turkish and Iranian leaders to ensure that all agreements reached will be fulfilled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

"In the course of the coordination of the trilateral meeting, which will take place tomorrow, I mean the meeting of the heads of state of Russia, Iran and Turkey, Putin assured his interlocutors that... on the part of Russia, relevant work will be conducted with the Syrian leadership," Peskov said.

"In order to pave the way for understandings that can be achieved tomorrow in Sochi and to be sure that such agreements that may be achieved tomorrow can be viable," he told reporters, adding that it was why Putin received Assad in Sochi on Monday.

Putin praised Assad for fighting terrorism, which he predicted would suffer an inevitable defeat in Syria, the Kremlin said. 

Assad's visit to Russia was brief and closely-guarded. He flew in on Monday evening, held talks, and flew out four hours after landing, according to the Kremlin. Officials did not release word of the meeting until Tuesday morning.

"We still have a long way to go before we achieve a complete victory over terrorists. But as far as our joint work in fighting terrorism on the territory of Syria is concerned, this military operation is indeed wrapping up," Putin told Assad, in comments broadcast by Russian television.

"Now the most important thing, of course, is to move on to the political questions, and I note with satisfaction your readiness to work with all those who want peace and a solution (to the conflict)," he said.

"I would like very much to discuss with you the main principles for organising the political process, and the holding of a congress of the peoples of Syria, that is supported by you," Putin told Assad.

"I would like to hear from you your assessment of the state of affairs today, and the prospects for the developments of the situation, including your view of the political process, which, in our view, must ultimately be carried out under the aegis of the United Nations."

Syrian leader Assad told Putin: "At this stage, especially after we achieved victory over terrorists, it is in our interests to move forward with the political process."

"And we believe that the situation we now have on the ground and in the political sense permits us to expect progress in the political process. We count on the support of Russia to ensure the non-interference of outside players in the political process."

"On behalf of the entire Syrian people, I express my gratitude for what you have done," Assad told the roomful of Russian military officers. "We will not forget it."