President of The Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani, President of The Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of The Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gathered in Sochi on November 22, 2017, for а tripartite meeting, reaffirmed their determination to continue active collaboration among Iran, Russia and Turkey with а view to establishing peace and stability in Syria, envisaged by UNSCR 2254.
The Presidents expressed satisfaction with the current level of tripartite coordination on maintaining and strengthening the ceasefire regime in Syria, of which Iran, Russia and Turkey are guarantors.
The Heads of state noted that, following several years of international efforts to defeat unsc-designated terrorist groups in Syria, over the 11 months since the establishment of the ceasefire regime on December 29, 2016, a breakthrough had been made in bringing closer the elimination of ISIL, Nusra Front and all other terrorist organizations as designated by the UNSC and agreed that Iran, Russia and Turkey will continue cooperation for their ultimate defeat.
The Presidents emphasized that the creation of the de-escalation areas established in Astana process in Syria have been quite efficient and greatly helped to reduce violence, alleviate the humanitarian suffering, curb the flow of refugees, and start working to provide conditions for the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Presidents acknowledged that the ”Astana format“ and its achievements have become an effective instrument for contributing to peace and stability in Syria.
The Presidents decided that Iran, Russia and Turkey would continue their coordinated efforts to ensure that the progress in reduction of violence is irreversible. They agreed to assist the Syrians in restoring unity of the country, and achieving а political solution of the crisis through an inclusive, free, fair and transparent Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process leading to а constitution enjoying the support of the Syrian people and free and fair elections with the participation of all eligible Syrians under appropriate un supervision.
The Heads of state reaffirmed their strong commitment to sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of The Syrian Arab Republic and emphasized that under no circumstances the creation of the above-mentioned de-escalation areas and at political initiative to solve the Syrian crisis undermine the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of The Syrian Arab Republic.
The Presidents expressed their support for а broad intra-Syrian dialogue involving representatives of all segments of Syrian society.
The Presidents called on the representatives of The Government of The Syrian Arab Republic and the opposition that are committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity, territorial integrity and non-fractional character of the Syrian state to participate constructively in the Syrian national dialogue congress in Sochi in near future. They agreed to actively contribute to the success of the Congress. Iran, Russia and Turkey will consult and agree on participants of the Congress.
The Presidents underscored the need for rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and emphasized the need for the Syrian parties to take confidence-building measures, including the release of detainees/abductees and the handover of the bodies as well as identification of missing persons to create better condition for political process and lasting ceasefire. They called upon members of the international community to support the process of de-escalation and stabilization in Syria, inter alia, by sending additional aid to the Syrian people, facilitating the humanitarian mine action, preserving historical heritage, and restoring basic infrastructure assets, including social and economic facilities.
The Presidents expressed the hope that the progress in resolving Syrian crisis achieved through cooperation of Iran, Russia and Turkey would have а positive effect on the overall situation in the region, and reduce the risk of ethnic and sectarian divide.
The Presidents decided to meet again as needed.
The Presidents of Islamic Republic of Iran and The Republic of Turkey expressed their sincere gratitude to President of The Russian Federation, Н.Е Vladimir Putin, for hosting this tripartite summit in Sochi.
No commentary about removal of uninvited state actors though – yet.
Reality on the ground will be that the US will have to be shoehorned out.
If there are logistical depots at US “bases”, they will be liquidated via Kalibrs.
A few missiles ought to change the “mission statement” of CENTCOM vis a vis Syria.
It may take until summer 2018, but the US cannot sustain a war during its election cycle.
No one but Khazarians and Neocons want war in Syria. Just look at the calendar. US will have no proxies except the Kurds who already know the US will abandon them when the shit hits the fan. Eg., Kirkuk, Iraq. And the Turks will be that much stronger by summer for a war against Kurds, even if the US supplied the SDF.
So with little effort from Iran and Russia, the US just needs to feel a few Kalibrs fly by their sorry asses to understand, they are leaving.
Unless there are extensive insurgencies threatening the peace and political dialogue, US has nothing to say about Syria. They can rant all day and night about bad Assad. And they can scream about Russia staying. And they and the Israelis can instigate more trouble at the Golan and the SW border.
But the Syrian people will not allow the US to stay.
Like every other war since Korea stalemate, the US will be leaving with nothing but defeat written in the history books. They flattened Raqqa. Hurray! They let 4000 ISIS out before they did. It was a travesty of a military battle. Like the 7th Calvary killing women and children left in the tepees. Or the Vietnamese left in the thatch-roofed hamlets the GIs torched.
The US won’t be able to handle the incoming missiles. It’s that simple.
You speak from an armchair position of exercising a lot of force, what if you are the president of russia, it is not that easy, to do violence.
A signal of the force is all that is needed. The US military eschews combat with its own troops. During this war, many signs have been sent. Use of bombers from Russia, use of Kalibrs from submarines submerged, use of the aircraft carrier, all symbols of strength that can be brought to the battlefield. Types of ammunition also are symbols of resolve.
This went on throughout the war. Recall the impact of the first Kalibrs fired from the Caspian Sea boats. It shocked all the West’s notions of those boats, the range and the impact of the warheads. The West had been thinking 50% less than what was demonstrated. Even the precise maneuvers in flight of the missiles shocked the West.
Continually, the US has run up against Russian capabilities and misjudged widely.
So, a missile or two sent toward the US compound in the desert of East Syria taking out the depot when no personnel is there show Intel, accuracy and determination.
Russia is at a crossroads in history. It must have the resolve to push out the Hegemon from Eurasia. It must defend its economic interests, particularly its markets for gas and oil, and its military weapons sales. And it now has to preserve what it invested and spent in Syria. It lost officers and troops, a passenger plane with 224 civilians, a General, at least four Colonels, doctors, pilots, and contractors in PMCs. Shedding that blood entitles Russia to a permanent place in Syria. Russia also has to manage Turkey’s role and modulate Iran’s interests in Syria and connection to Hezbollah and Shia of Lebanon.
Resolve includes demonstration of the capacity to enforce its will.
The most recent complaint of the US commander that his pilots in F-22s cannot “see” the Russians flying in Su 34s and Su 35s at times, and the Russians won’t “talk” to them when called over established channels are indications that Russia is doing its work with no concession to US hegemonic desires or demands.
Now its time for more of this, not caution or trepidation.
If suddenly an ammo cache went up in flames, as they do in Ukraine from time to time, it would be a good signal that CENTCOM needs to move out.
I believe that historical facts prove your observation. Because immediately after the first salvo of Kalibers from the Caspian the U.S. carrier battle group immediately developed ‘maintenance problems’ and had to leave the area. To leave that quickly, it must’ve been a big maintenance ‘problem’, LOL.
For the first time since 2007, the U.S. Navy has no aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-bombs-syria-u-s-pulls-aircraft-carrier-out-persian-n440731
Ah, it looks as though the Russians can and should act forcefully after all. And of course, it will all be “simple.” Like the decision to attack Iraq–” a piece of cake,” right?
My take here is that Russia, Iran and Turkey are now working on the same wavelength to effect the interests of Syria, as decided by Syria. The Russians and Iranians have been working this goal from the outset, now it appears Turkey is committed, also. A huge accomplishment, if solid.
The implications are far bigger:
This is a huge win for the multi-polar world:
surrounding countries fixed a regional
problem, where the unipolar approach failed
(US “war against terror” etc).
This will even reform the UN: the silly notion that some
Polynesian country (a US puppet no less) should vote/decide
the fate of Crimeans will be changed:
from now on everybody will deal with regional problems
and meddle less with where they don’t belong to.
The Empire is dead.
Iran is so cool – Turkey is such a turn-coat – but Iran just does a Mona Lisa smile –
Eschatology is not kind. Certain ones want the end. Our end. They think that is their beginning. Damascus despite all the pain and horror and immense bravery will be taken down to align reality with eschatoligical imperatives. I wish with every fibre of my being it were otherwise.
Putin has said we tread the path to Armageddon and I concur. After rejecting Christ they summon the devil.
Stay strong Russia.
Humanity and life itself depend on your faithfulness.
Don’t trust Erdogan for a minute. He is a snake. He understands how power is shifting in the ME and he is pragmatic. He knows where his interests lie but he has no principles.
yup….a friendly “bear hug’ is constantly needed……but a bit more of a squeeze would choke the life out of him………
The only thing keeping Erdogan on the straight and narrow is the threat of Muhammed Fethullah Gülen returning under a stars-n-stripes banner. But if he is led correctly (a la Putin) then he has the control and power to drive the Turks towards new futures and away from their past obsession with the now dying Eurozone.
Just two years ago Russia entered the Syrian war. I called it a game-changer back then here on Saker’s blog. How much the global geo-political landscape has changed ever since. Incredible! And the unfolding is far from over. Much more to come.
concur..the new global geopolitical map is one of team chaos being cornered…but it is still vicious though sulking who is /are the last victims?..burma,us…
That is correct. The political and economic power is moving towards the East, and both Washington and Wall Street know it. They are trying to prevent it. The crisis with Syria, Iran and North Korea is proof of this. However, it wont work. Times change. Washington and Wall Street are having a tough time accepting this. Worse, both have imperial ambitions outside the US, while at the same time they have a very weak situation inside the US, with 1/3 of the labor force unemployed, with at least 28.000 factories closed down, if not 60.000 as Trump has stated, with a gigantic foreign and internal debt and with the dollar being printed in huge amounts backed by nothing. Makes you wonder how this will end for the US.,
so….does this mean now VVP can turn his attention to the Donbass etc , as clearly Kiev is still totally warped directly threatening Russia………..ignore it, or be more actioned against Kiev, or just wait for the coal and gas to run out …..decades ago this sort of thing would invite a definite response???? a village in neutral zone “kidnapped” by AFU yesterday, kindergarten shelled………..
“Thursday, November 23, 2017 – 12:30
Ukraine needs to wait for a suitable moment and attack Russia, first weakening the country from the inside, said Verkhovna Rada deputy Andrey Biletsky.
Answering the question on how to end the conflict in the Donbass, the ex-commander of the Azov nationalist battling, against whom there was opened a criminal case in Russia, recalled that the reunion of the Crimea with Russia had occurred at a time when Ukraine was weakened. He claims that now Kiev must press on Moscow’s “sore spots” and strike.
“In the same way, Russia needs to be weakened from within, and this is possible, because there are many internal, national, social and religious problems there. There are moments, there are points on which one can punch,” the Ukrainian deputy said.
In addition, Biletsky urged to weaken Russia “geopolitically” and strengthen the Ukrainian army, in order to then attack the neighbouring state.
The parliamentarian noted that at the decisive moment, only a military way of solving problems is possible.
“Diplomacy will be needed later, in order to conclude a good peace at the negotiating table,” Biletsky concluded.
Kiev repeatedly accused Moscow of interfering in the affairs of Ukraine and called Russia an “aggressor country.” The Russian party rejects such accusations. Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is not a side of the intra-Ukrainian conflict and is not involved in the events in the Donbass.
DONi News Agency”
Kiev clowns never cease to amuse. Ukropia is falling apart, economy is on a permanent life support provided by IMF, and all they do is dreaming about attacking Russia. Setting priorities right I guess. No wonder they have joined third world countries on all world economies charts.
What a relief! sanity at last. All 3 leaders seem relaxed and confident; Erdogan is a changed man, his face has lost that trapped expression which came from desperately trying to reconcile the nice Turkish policy of Zero Problems with Neighbours with the nasty NATZO policy of Rape & Dismember.
By the way, The Man from Uncle: was he not invited, or wouldn’t he play unless they let him be Chief?
This is a very bad sign both for the US and the EU, as both have been left out of the Syrian peace process, and its debatable if they deserve to be part of it. It is now perfectly clear that Vladimir Putin has risen to the worlds forefront as a peace maker and world statesman, enjoying unprecidented esteem. As for the US, it would be wise if it instructed their ambassador to the UN, little Nikki Haley, not to make outrageous statements, like saying the US will do as it pleases with respect to Syria, regardless of what the UN states. Such imperial attitudes cannot be accepted. All they do is erode the little credibility the US has left.
An SDF spokesman, on condition of anonymity, told Sputnik Turkey that they had received a large batch of armored vehicles and weapons from the United States on the eve of Deir ez-Zor operation.
The US supply of armored vehicles and heavy weapons to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is not slowing down.
“The US sent us 120 armored cars and weapons, including submachine guns, howitzers, mortars, which were brought overland from Northern Iraq, then fetched to the city of Hasek, and from there they were taken to the territory east of Deir ez-Zor, which was liberated from Daesh by our detachments,” the SDF spokesman told Sputnik Turkey.
In addition to weapons, the spokesman said that the SDF received a large number of Hummer armored vehicles.
“This time, in addition to weapons, a large number of Hummer armored vehicles were delivered as we are experiencing a significant need for them,” the spokesman said.
A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces, inspects a military vehicle supplied by the US-led coalition, as they gather near a village north-east of Raqa
© AFP 2017/ DELIL SOULEIMAN
US Sends 120 Trucks With Arms to Syrian Democratic Forces for Deir ez-Zor Operation
According to previous reports, since the decision was made to provide military assistance to the SDF Kurdish forces, the US has supplied them with a total of 1,900 trucks full of heavy weapons and armaments.”
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711231059373042-us-supplies-arms-vehicles-to-sdf/
A member of a Syrian opposition party, Tarek Ahmad, has commented on a recent media report about an indefinite US military presence in the country, which had been slammed as an “aggression” by Damascus, after the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group.
The United States’ alleged plans to maintain its military presence in the northern part of Syria for an indefinite period of time after the Daesh terrorist group’s defeat “once again confirms essential plans of the United States to secure its presence in the north of Syria, a representative of the opposition Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), Tarek Ahmad, told Sputnik on Thursday.
According to Ahmad, “The United States wants to control the sources of petroleum and gas, and therefore interferes in the political settlement. As of today, they are dependent on Kurdish troops in the region and help them to expand their control over the area of the Al-Omar oil fields.”
The statement comes in the wake of a Wednesday report by The Washington Post, which claimed that US officials were considering a potential open-ended military commitment in northern Syria after defeating the terrorists. According to the newspaper, Washington fears that the northern areas, where its troops have been training local militia, will fall into the control of the Syrian government, while an open-ended US military presence may help stabilize communities under a local government.
”
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201711231059373511-us-oil-syria-military-presence/
Of course, it would be great to set the date for ALL foreign powers to withdraw to their borders with Syria. This would undermine the willfulness of the US et al, to hang out.
The fight can begin when any faction, outside the direct control of Syria refuses to leave the country. We know who that will be. Then all other factions can join to drive them out.
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/11/24/543378/UK-Royal-Navy-HMS-Diamond-persian-gulf
The UK Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond air-defense destroyer has left the Perisan Gulf and is on its way back home after breaking down, an incident that highlights the long-standing reliability issues plaguing the latest generation of British warships sent to the region.
The ship will shortly join the navy’s five other Type 45 destroyers in Portsmouth, where they all will be waiting a refit to fix a problem in their propulsion systems.
ghost of the ayatollah puts in guest appearance.