... affirms preserving Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

The guarantor states of Astana process (Iran, Russia and Turkey) reiterated their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria and continue to fight terrorism.

In its final statement at the end of the tenth round of Astana format meeting in the Russian city of Sochi, the guarantor states reaffirmed their determination to fight against terrorism in Syria in order to ultimately eliminate Daesh (ISIS), Jabhat al-Nusra and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them or with Al-Qaeda as designated by the UN Security Council.

The statement added that the parties agreed to continue tripartite coordination on the situation in Syria and expressed their determination to stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as the national security of neighboring countries.

“The Parties would continue joint efforts aimed at advancing the Syrian led and Syrian-owned process of the political settlement in order to create conditions to facilitate the beginning of the Constitutional Committee`s work in Geneva as soon as possible consistent with the decisions of the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi and the UN Security Council resolution 2254,” according to the statement.

They expressed satisfaction with useful consultations with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and agreed to with him to convene next round of consultations in Geneva in September 2018.

The guarantor states called upon the international community, particularly the UN and its humanitarian agencies, to increase its assistance to Syria by sending additional humanitarian aid, facilitating humanitarian mine action, restoring basic infrastructure assets, including social and economic facilities, and preserving historical heritage.

The parties underscored the need to encourage efforts that help all Syrians to restore normal life, noting that discussions started in coordination with the international community, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the specialized international agencies in order to create necessary conditions for the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons and the refugees to the original places of residence in Syria.

The statement added that the parties would continue the joint efforts aimed at building confidence among all the Syrian parties and working to know about the fate of the abductees and the missing and releasing them.

The parties decided to hold the next high-level International Meeting on Syria in November 2018.