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Syria peace talks: Putin to discuss political solution with Erdogan & Rouhani amid ISIS demise Syria peace talks: Putin discusses political solution with Erdogan & Rouhani amid ISIS demise
(about 3 hours later)
The leaders of Russia, Turkey, and Iran will meet on Wednesday in Sochi to discuss joint efforts on how to bring lasting peace to Syria. The three countries previously agreed to be guarantors of the Syrian peace process. Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a meeting in Sochi with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hassan Rouhani of Iran to share their views on Syrian reconciliation. The three countries previously agreed to be guarantors of the Syrian peace process.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani of Iran on Wednesday in Sochi to share their views on Syrian reconciliation. The meeting comes at a time when Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) is steadily losing ground in Syria. Welcoming his dignitary guests, Putin said the meeting comes at a crucial moment in the Syrian armed conflict, when there is an opportunity to end it.
Last week, the Kremlin confirmed the meeting, meant “to have an in-depth exchange of opinions on Syrian reconciliation, particularly in light of common successful work within the Astana format.”  “The militants in Syria have sustained a decisive blow, and now there is a realistic chance to end the multiyear civil war,” he said. This would require giving the Syrians a period of peace, during which they would be able to settle their differences, Putin added. This will require compromise by all parties in Syria, both the government and the rebels, he stressed.
Putin, Erdogan, and Rouhani “are planning to discuss further steps to ensure long-term stability in this country” amid “the successes in combatting terrorism and visible reduction of violence in Syria,” the Kremlin statement said. Last week, the Kremlin confirmed the meeting, which is intended “to have an in-depth exchange of opinions on Syrian reconciliation, particularly in light of common successful work within the Astana format.” 
The Sochi summit will also lay the groundwork for the ‘National Dialogue Congress,’ which will bring to the table both the Syrian government and various sectarian groups willing to enter into talks with Damascus. However, Ankara is reluctant to have direct talks with the Kurds, while the Syrian opposition is still skeptical about discussing peacemaking efforts with the government. The three leaders “are planning to discuss further steps to ensure long-term stability in this country” amid “the successes in combatting terrorism and visible reduction of violence in Syria,” the Kremlin statement said.
Later in the day, the Iranian president said it was crucial that the trilateral meeting seeks to find ways to reconcile the Syrian government and opposition groupings. “It is important that consultations are held in this summit [in Sochi] about that congress, which should be in the Syrian people’s interests eventually,” President Rouhani said before leaving for Russia, as cited by Tasnim news agency. The Sochi summit will also lay the groundwork for the National Dialogue Congress, which will bring to the table both the Syrian government and various sectarian groups willing to enter into talks with Damascus. Ankara, however, is reluctant to hold direct talks with the Kurds, while the Syrian opposition remains skeptical about discussing peacemaking efforts with the government.
The summit comes just days after a surprise meeting between Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad, who unexpectedly visited Sochi on Monday. Assad, whose forces have been fighting the terrorists since 2011, said that it was due to Russia’s support that Syria has managed to exist as a state. Iranian leader Rouhani said on Wednesday that it was crucial that the trilateral meeting sought to find ways to reconcile the Syrian government and opposition groupings. “It is important that consultations are held in this summit [in Sochi] about that congress, which should be in the Syrian people’s interests eventually,” President Rouhani said before leaving for Russia, as cited by Tasnim news agency.
Previously, the Russian president also held telephone conversations with US President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow and Washington have reached “a fairly sustainable cooperation” on Syria, though there are “huge problems in condemning terrorists and extremists.” The summit comes just days after a surprise meeting between Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad, who unexpectedly visited Sochi on Monday. Assad, whose forces have been fighting terrorists in Syria since 2011, said that it was due to Russian support that Syria still existed as a state.
Previously, Putin also held telephone conversations with US President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow and Washington had reached “a fairly sustainable cooperation” on Syria, though there were “huge problems in condemning terrorists and extremists.”