The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the
Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, as guarantors of the
observance of the ceasefire regime in Syria, held the second meeting in
Moscow on 28 April 2018. They discussed the development of the situation in
and around Syria and its impact on the regional peace and security.
The Ministers:
1. Reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,
as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and highlighted that these principles should be respected by all.
2. Emphasized their determination to strengthen trilateral
coordination on the basis of the joint statements by the Presidents of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey
of 22 November 2017 and 4 April 2018.
3. Agreed to increase joint efforts aimed at facilitating the
achievement of a lasting political settlement in Syria envisaged by the UN
Security Council resolution 2254 and through full use of multi-level
mechanisms of the Astana format.
4. Underscored the efficiency of the Astana format as the only
international initiative that had helped practically improve the situation
in Syria through joint efforts to combat terrorism, reduce the level of
violence and create favourable conditions for the political settlement,
including via facilitating broad intra-Syrian dialogue. Decided to
hold the next International Meeting on Syria in Astana in May 2018 in
conjunction with the second meeting of the Working Group on the release of
detainees/abductees and handover of the bodies as well as the
identification of missing persons.
5. Emphasized the importance of the contribution of Astana format
to ensure real progress in achieving a political solution in Syria through
an inclusive, free, fair and transparent Syrian-led and Syrian-owned
process based on the free will of the Syrian people and leading to a
constitution enjoying the support of the Syrian people, and free and fair
elections with the participation of all eligible Syrians under appropriate
UN supervision. In this regard agreed to increase the frequency of
regular joint consultations of high-level representatives of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey with
the United Nations Secretary-General and his Special Envoy for Syria in
order to facilitate the beginning of the Constitutional Committee`s work in
Geneva as soon as possible on the basis of the recommendations of the
Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi and in coordination with
the three guarantor-states.
6. Reaffirmed their determination to continue their cooperation in
order to ultimately eliminate DAESH/ISIL, Nusra Front and all other
individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaeda or
DAESH/ISIL as designated by the UN Security Council in Syria and underscored the success of their collective efforts in the fight
against terrorism. They called upon all armed opposition groups in
Syria to completely and immediately dissociate from above‑mentioned
terrorist groups.
7. Highlighted the importance of de-escalation efforts
and reiterated their commitment to preserve the ceasefire regime
that had become instrumental in helping to reduce violence on the ground
and alleviate the humanitarian suffering.
8. Rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground
under the pretext of combating terrorism 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.
9. Strongly condemned any use of chemical weapons in Syria and demanded that any reports in this regard be investigated promptly
and professionally in full compliance with the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
Weapons and on Their Destruction and by the OPCW as the main international
competent authority to establish use of chemical weapons.
10. Reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts aimed at
protecting the civilians, improving the humanitarian situation via
facilitating rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in
need, launching and maintaining work of confidence building mechanisms
between the parties as well as helping normalize the situation all across
Syria, including by creating conditions for safe return of refugees and
internally displaced persons.
Called upon
the international community, first and foremost the UN and its humanitarian
agencies, to increase their assistance to Syria in the interest of all
Syrians, including by facilitating humanitarian mine action, restoring
basic infrastructure together with social and economic facilities, and
preserving historical heritage.