European media praise Russian-Turkish summit on Syria

Politics 15:45 18.09.2018
The summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Sochi Monday night has been covered extensively in European newspapers on Tuesday.
 
The two leaders met in the Russian resort city to discuss the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib, on which an all-out assault by Syrian regime forces was feared.
 
The story was on the front page of major Russian newspapers.
 
The Kommersant newspaper commented on the perseverance of the Russian and Turkish presidents who found a compromise in Sochi.
 
The newspaper cited two representatives of the Syrian opposition. One of the leaders of Syria’s armed opposition Fateh Hasun told Kommersant: "Sochi managed to stop the bloodshed of tens of thousands of Syrians -- between the opposition and those who are loyal to the authorities. And this is a positive step in Russia's relations with the forces of the Syrian revolution.”
 
Chairman of the Building the Syrian State (BSS) political movement Louay Hussein predicts that sooner or later Damascus will try to eventually take control of Idlib. 
 
“Neither Damascus, nor the forces loyal to it, nor the Russians will leave the 'island of security' outside the control of the Syrian army and will allow illegal weapons to remain in the region. At the same time, the agreement in Sochi will put an end to terrorists, including the al-Nusra Front,” he said.
 
The Izvestia newspaper, in an article titled “Russia and Turkey clarified the future of Idlib” said the meeting in Sochi “brought clarity” to the Russian and Turkish positions on Idlib and helped to find a compromise.
 
'Limits of Putin's power'
 
The daily does warn about difficulties in the realization of the agreement and possible implications.
 
The Rossiyskaya Gazeta in a story under the headline “Syrian breakthrough” praised the understanding between the two leaders.
 
German media also widely covered the Erdogan-Putin summit and underlined Turkey’s strong influence in the region.
 
“The agreement with Erdogan shows the limits of Putin’s power,” weekly Die Zeit commented.
 
“Until recently Vladimir Putin has intensified the military threat backdrop in Idlib. But his agreement with Turkey once again showed that Russia cannot control Syria alone,” the weekly newspaper reported.
 
Under the headline “An attack on opposition stronghold Idlib averted”, the Frankfurter Rundschau daily welcomed the agreement between Turkey and Russia to set up up a demilitarized zone.
 
“With this a Russian military offensive is ruled out, for the time being,” it reported.
 
'Welcomed by international community'
 
The British media also welcomed the last-minute deal over Idlib.
 
The BBC said “any diplomatic arrangement that postpones a full-scale onslaught against Idlib will be welcomed by the international community”.
 
It said “such an attack by the [Bashar al-] Assad government -- backed by its Russian and Iranian allies -- risked not just a humanitarian catastrophe, but also a direct military confrontation with Turkey.”
 
Recalling that Turkey has deployed troops at a number of locations in Idlib and has been reinforcing these recently, the BBC also said Assad wanted “to reassert control over Idlib -- the last province in rebel hands.”
 
The Guardian said an “immediate risk of a humanitarian disaster in the last major Syrian rebel enclave of Idlib appears to have been averted by a joint Russian-Turkish plan to set up a demilitarised zone as a buffer between the Syrian army and the rebels”.
 
The daily also quoted Jan Egeland, an adviser to the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, as describing the deal as “hope at long last for 3 million Syrian civilians in Idlib”.
 
“Russia and Turkey agree on plan that may avert horrific war among displaced people. The Syrian government and armed opposition groups must respect deal, not provoke bloodshed and allow humanitarian access,” Egeland said, according to the paper.
 
French daily Liberation emphasized the “primordial” role of Turkey in reaching the deal. “Ankara has been doing everything” for months “to prevent the Syrian regime and its allies from launching the assault, said the daily”.
 
Newspaper Le Figaro said Ankara was facing two challenges: avoiding “a new influx of Syrian refugees caused by a major offensive, while the country has already hosted more than 3 million Syrians since the beginning of the conflict.” And protecting Turkish soldiers “deployed in 12 observation posts established in Idlib to ensure compliance with the 'de-escalation' implemented by the Astana process, started in January 2017 as well as 'moderate' Syrian rebel groups.”
Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Russian investigators have evidence of Ukraine link to Crocus terrorists
22:24 28.03.2024
Committee members of the EU Council will visit the South Caucasus region
19:48 28.03.2024
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
Bayern to pay Thomas Tuchel 12M euro compensation
19:00 28.03.2024
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Twitch's biggest streamer diagnosed with cancer diagnosis at 32
23:55 27.03.2024
Hamısı