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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,

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Regrettably, on the eve of our talks,

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reports of a tragic accident on the Black Sea arrived.

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We talked about this at the beginning of our meeting.

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Turkish sailors are among the dead.

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I would like to express my sincere condolences once again 

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in this connection.

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Mr President and I work closely and meet regularly.

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Our meetings are always intensive and, without exaggeration,

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productive. This has a positive influence on our practical work.

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The Russia-Turkey-Iran summits in Ankara and Tehran,

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as part of the Astana process, are also very productive.

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They were devoted to the settlement in Syria.

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We are preparing to host another summit in Russia soon.

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Mr President and I have already agreed on the venue and tentative date.

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We will have to coordinate this with our Iranian partners.

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Today, our talks took place in a constructive and businesslike 

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atmosphere, something that is traditional for Russian-Turkish talks.

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We largely concentrated on economic issues and humanitarian ties but 

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certainly spoke at length about the situation in Syria.

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We discussed in detail the prospects for the inter-Syrian political process.

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Russia and Turkey assume a clear-cut position of principle –

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to achieve a long-term settlement of the Syrian crisis on a political 

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and diplomatic basis, primarily,

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in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and with strict 

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observance of the unity, sovereignty and territorial 

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integrity of the country.

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It is in this vein that Mr President and I discussed issues 

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of cooperation in the Astana format.

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At this time, this format is the most effective mechanism 

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for settling the conflict in Syria.

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We, of course, focused on establishing a Constitutional Committee,

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which will deal with key aspects of the future structure 

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of the state in Syria.

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Let me remind you that Russian and Turkish diplomats,

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in close contact with their Iranian colleagues,

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carried out serious work to coordinate the membership of this committee 

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and honoured all agreements we reached with France 

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and Germany in Istanbul.

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Sadly, we failed to form this Constitutional Committee before the end 

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of last year, though our efforts laid a strong and balanced foundation 

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for launching a stable and viable political settlement process.

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We also discussed issues related to finally putting a stop to all 

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terrorist groups’ activities in Syria.

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In particular, we talked about implementing the Russian-Turkish 

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Memorandum on establishing a demilitarised zone in Idlib,

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which we signed in Sochi.

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We can see that our Turkish partners spare no effort to eliminate 

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the terrorist threat emanating from there.

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At the same time, we must work together with the aim of finally 

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relieving tensions in that area.

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In this context, we discussed what additional steps Russia and Turkey 

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could take to stabilise the situation around Idlib.

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We proceed from the premise that supporting the ceasefire should not 

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come at the expense of the struggle against terrorists,

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which is to be continued.

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Another topic of discussion was the US leadership’s intention 

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to withdraw US troops from the north-east of Syria and its effect 

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on developments in the Syrian Arab Republic going forward.

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If these plans are really executed,

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it will be a positive step and would help stabilise the situation 

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in this troubled area of Syria,

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currently under the control of Kurdish formations.

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In this context, we support official Damascus entering into dialogue 

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with Kurdish representatives.

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This dialogue would doubtless promote the consolidation of Syrian 

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society and national accord, which would be in the interests of both 

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Syria and all neighbouring countries.

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Cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the post-conflict development 

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of Syria is of great importance.

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The President and I agreed that the military forces and diplomats 

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of both our countries would continue coordinated efforts in this 

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direction with the aim of encouraging the large-scale return of Syrian 

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refugees and internally displaced persons.

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When speaking about the current aspect of bilateral relations,

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we noted that economic cooperation was increasing.

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Trade for January-November 2018 increased by 18 percent to $23 billion 

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or more than over the whole year of 2017.

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The High-Level Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council has been working 

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efficiently to coordinate Russian-Turkish partnership 

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in a number of spheres.

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The council’s next meeting will be held in Russia this year.

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Russia and Turkey are working together on major projects,

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primarily in energy. Last November in Istanbul,

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the President of Turkey and I took part in a ceremony marking 

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the completion of the TurkStream gas pipeline’s offshore section.

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I would like to remind everyone that within less than 18 months we have 

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built two underwater lines of this project of major importance 

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for Russia and Turkey; each line will carry 15.75 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

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We hope the onshore part of the project will proceed at a comparable 

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pace, so that we will be able to launch the pipeline 

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according to plan by the end of 2019.

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The launch of this new gas pipeline is important for the energy 

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security of both Turkey and southern and southeastern Europe.

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We are on course to implement another major project,

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the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant,

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Akkuyu. We are building the first power unit for it and plan to put it 

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into operation in 2023, in time for the 100th anniversary 

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of the Republic of Turkey, just as Mr President has instructed.

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We welcome the Turkish business community’s interest in expanding 

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operations in the Russian market.

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In this context, we have invited Turkey to attend the INNOPROM-2019 International Industrial Trade Fair,

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which will be held in Yekaterinburg in July, as a partner country.

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Of course, we also discussed our cultural and humanitarian ties.

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We are preparing to hold the cross-years of culture 

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and tourism in Russia and Turkey.

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Russia firmly holds first place in the number of foreign 

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tourists visiting Turkey.

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Nearly six million Russian tourists visited Turkey in 2018.

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Our Turkish partners have developed close cooperation with us in order 

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to ensure the comfort and security of Russian visitors.

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I would like to conclude by saying that our talks with Mr Erdogan were 

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meaningful and fruitful.

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They will undoubtedly help strengthen Russian-Turkish relations 

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on the principles of neighbourliness and respect for one 

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another’s interests.

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I would like to thank President Erdogan for accepting our 

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invitation to come to Moscow today.

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Thank you very much.

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Mr President, my dear friend,

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Delegation heads and members of the media,

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I wholeheartedly greet all of you.

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I would like to say once again that I am delighted to be in Russia.

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In your presence, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr President 

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for the warm welcome accorded to us.

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We have come to Russia shortly after the terrible tragedy 

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in the Kerch Strait. Four of the 16 dead are Turkish citizens.

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The search and rescue operation is still going on.

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May those who have died rest in peace.

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I wish courage and patience to the victims’ families 

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and speedy recovery to those injured.

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I extend our condolences to the other countries whose 

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citizens have died.

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Despite the adverse weather, Russia conducted the search 

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and rescue operation in full.

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I would like to express our gratitude to Mr Putin and all 

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representatives of the Russian team.

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We maintain close and very good cooperation in all spheres,

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including the economy, trade, energy and culture.

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Being our countries’ leaders, Mr Putin and I can say that our 

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cooperation is growing stronger from day to day.

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Our economic cooperation is growing progressively,

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and our bilateral trade is on the rise.

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As Mr President has noted, our trade has reached $26 billion.

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Our two main projects – the Akkuyu nuclear power plant 

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and the TurkStream gas pipeline – are moving forward consistently.

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This year we plan to hold a large number of events as part 

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of the cross-year of culture and tourism.

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Russia holds the leading place in terms of the tourists visiting 

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Turkey. Last year, we had some 6 million Russian tourists.

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We expect the number to increase considerably this year.

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As for visa-free travel, we had this issue on our agenda 

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and we discussed it. The introduction of this procedure would have 

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a great impact on our relations in terms of mutual travel.

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As far as Syria is concerned, we discussed both the Idlib memorandum 

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and the quadripartite summit.

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We also assessed the US decision to pull out its forces.

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Cooperation between Turkey and Russia is a touchstone 

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of Syrian peace and stability.

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Together with our Russian friends,

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we intend to strengthen our coordination still further.

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It is of critical importance in this respect not to allow a vacuum 

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of power to take shape after the US pullout.

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Our only goal as a state is to fight terrorist groups and to clear 

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the territory from these elements,

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primarily ISIS and YPG. We know well who supports them.

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We are particularly opposed to the terrorist organisations that are 

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attempting to undermine our relations with Russia.

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We will work in close coordination and will rapidly 

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implement the decisions approved in this area.

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A Constitutional Committee should be formed within a brief timeframe.

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We would like to accelerate work in this area,

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particularly the joint efforts by the relevant colleagues.

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We hope and we are certain that the job will be done soon.

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We have reviewed the problem of Syrian refugees.

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This issue is clearly affecting us because my country is 

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giving refuge to 3.5 million Syrians.

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Over 300,000 Syrians have returned to their homes in both the Operation 

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Euphrates Shield zone and the Operation Olive Branch zone.

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These people have resumed normal life that is far removed 

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from terrorism and various problems.

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All of this should be implemented and extended to other territories 

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in Syria and the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

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We will work accordingly in all formats –

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both bilateral and the Astana formats.

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We will hold a new trilateral summit in Russia with my friend Mr Rouhani. 

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We are also planning that Russia will host a meeting 

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of the High-Level Cooperation Council.

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I would like to express the wish that the decisions we have approved 

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only benefit our countries and to thank my dear friend Mr Putin

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 for his hospitality.

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About the security zone [buffer zone]: are there any specific 

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achievements in bilateral negotiations with the American side?

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Was this question on today's agenda?

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Mr Putin, what is Russia’s approach to this issue? Thank you.

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Meetings continue on the creation of a security zone.

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All the regions that pose a threat to us are very important,

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and we must take appropriate measures.

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In our contacts with the Americans,

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we can see that they have a positive approach to our requirements 

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[to create a buffer zone] of 25–30 kilometres.

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We have no problems with Russia in this regard,

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because these regions will be cleared of terrorists.

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After that, our respective authorities,

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the ministers of foreign affairs and the ministers of defence will do 

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the required work, and we will remain sensitive to this issue.

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In this connection, I would like to remind you that the American 

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military personnel are present on the territory 

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of the Syrian Arab Republic illegally.

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There are no international legal grounds for having them there,

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neither an invitation from the legitimate government,

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nor a decision of the United Nations Security Council.

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At the same time, as you know, we have established constructive 

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cooperation with our American partners in the fight against 

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terrorism, including in Syria.

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I hope that this work will continue. This is my first point.

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The second. We respect the interests of our Turkish friends 

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in ensuring their security.

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And the third. The 1998 treaty between the Syrian Arab Republic 

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and the Republic of Turkey is still valid,

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and it deals specifically with the fight against terrorism.

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I think this is the legal framework that covers many issues relating 

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to ensuring Turkey’s security on its southern borders.

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Today we have been discussing this issue thoroughly 

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and intensively enough.

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Mr Erdogan, Mr Putin,

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My question will have several parts but all of them deal 

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with the same subject.

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First of all, I would like to ask you to clarify the situation 

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in Idlib, where, despite a degree of success,

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terrorists continue to operate actively and where more and more 

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violations of the ceasefire regime are recorded.

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What agreements have you reached today for resolving this situation?

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Another matter I would like to ask you to clarify is the Constitutional Committee 

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that was mentioned today.

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Its membership has not yet been made public.

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What, in your opinion, are the main obstacles to finalising this 

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process, and how do you plan to overcome them?

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The first part of your question deals with Idlib 

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and the Idlib security zone.

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Indeed, we have discussed this matter in great detail today 

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(I talked about it, and President Erdogan has also noted this).

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I would like to repeat once again,

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we can see that our Turkish friends are working hard to fulfil all our 

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agreements in order to guarantee security and set up a buffer zone there.  

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Unfortunately, many problems persist there,

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and our Turkish partners and we can see all this.

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We have agreed on how to coordinate our work in the short term.

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Defence ministers held additional consultations in our presence,

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and they are drafting additional joint measures.

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We will implement them, and we will see to it that all our 

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agreements are fulfilled.

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We agree that we must continue to jointly fight terrorists wherever 

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they are, including in the Idlib zone.

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Regarding the second question about establishing the Constitutional Committee, 

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we believe that this is a very important process that should 

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reinforce our achievements on the ground in the fight against 

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terrorists because all long-term issues can only be completely resolved 

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by political and diplomatic methods alone.

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It is essential to press for accord between all warring parties in Syria. 

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This can only be accomplished through talks,

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including talks on establishing a stable institution of state authority 

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that would be accepted by all denominations and ethnic groups.

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This institution should make everyone feel that they are involved 

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in the future of their homeland, the Syrian Arab Republic.

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As for difficulties, they have, unfortunately, arisen,

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and I have also noted this.

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All of us, all the parties involved in this process,

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should display additional political will, greater consistency,

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and a sincere desire to achieve results.

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I want to emphasise the latter aspect.

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As you know, the leaders of Russia, Turkey,

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France and the Federal Republic of Germany met in Istanbul 

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at the initiative of the President of Turkey,

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and agreed to jointly establish this committee.

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Our colleagues asked Russia to coordinate these matters regarding this 

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committee’s line-up with the Syrian Government and our Iranian partners. 

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The Republic of Turkey had to accomplish a difficult task 

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and to coordinate this list with representatives of the opposition.

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We have completed this difficult job.

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I assure you that we have coordinated this matter during a difficult 

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discussion with Damascus and Tehran.

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I am sure that it was not easy for our Turkish friends 

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to coordinate this list with the opposition.

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However, we know, and not just know, but, I think,

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Mr President will confirm this: we coordinated and agreed with what was 

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declared by the Turkish side.

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The work was over, but suddenly, at the final stage,

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when it was necessary to put a full stop,

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we heard in Geneva that some of our partners regarded this 

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job as unfinished.

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For us, this was absolutely unexpected.

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I think this can be found even in the Internet.

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I mean a letter to the UN Secretary-General,

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a letter signed and sent on behalf of the permanent representatives 

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of France, Germany, and Great Britain.

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Item 5 of the letter states that Special Representative Mr de Mistura 

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is not to approve any statement concerning the Constitutional Committee 

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which the Astana guarantors will make in Geneva on December 18–19.

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For us, this was absolutely unexpected,

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and now I even find it difficult to comment on this appeal 

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to the Secretary-General by our partners.

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But we will, of course, practice patience and will continue working 

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with them, too, although we can hardly understand what 

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their position is based on.

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I have already had conversations with my counterparts from France 

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and the Federal Republic of Germany.

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I hope our foreign ministries will manage to organise this work in such 

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a way as to restore the former level of trust.

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My dear friend has given a clear and concise reply on both Idlib 

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and the Constitutional Committee,

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because we had been in contact on these matters earlier.

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In Idlib, we will fight the terrorist organisations jointly,

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as we agreed, because this fight is a protracted rather 

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than a one-time affair.

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Our main goal is to make sure that the Syrian people enjoy calm 

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and stability, and to deprive the terrorist elements of opportunities.

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We have once again reiterated our support for each other in this matter.

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As far as the Constitutional Committee is concerned,

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we have clearly stated on this issue that our foreign 

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ministries will go on with their work.

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Mr De Mistura was present at our summit and we have his 

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representative here.

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How will the new process continue and what it will be like?

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But the letter that was quoted just now really surprised all of us.

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But this is sooner their problem, not ours.

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At the Istanbul summit, we all demonstrated that a joint solution had 

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been reached and we will continue advancing in this direction.

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In this regard, my dear friend and I are of the same opinion.

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We hope that this effort will be crowned with success.

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But the work must continue in this direction.

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Thank you.