Trilateral meeting stresses commitment to preserving Syria's unity, sovereignty

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Turkey and Russia held a joint press conference yesterday at the end of Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where they exchanged views on the current situation in Syria and some regional issues including Libya and Afghanistan with focus on the grave humanitarian crisis faced by Syrian refugees and internally displaced Syrians. Addressing the press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the meeting focused on the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, ways to make humanitarian aids reach all Syrians without any discrimination or political basis. “Today there is an urgent need for aids, in particular under the current crisis of COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed. The parties emphasised the importance of protecting and maintaining the territorial unity of Syria, its stability, and sovereignty, he said, noting that they have agreed that there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis, but through political solution. We support the reconciliation process led by the United Nations, and encourage the Syrian parties to reach political solution, he said. The meeting parties expressed their support to all initiatives aimed at building confidences among the Syrians, he added. The foreign minister said they agreed on fighting terrorism, noting that Qatar is obliged to its humanitarian commitments and moral responsibility. The trilateral meeting agreed to continue coordination and dialogue. There is common ground for working together on different issues. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Syria, pointing out that there are 13.4 million Syrians lacking housing and food aid, while some 4 million are facing food shortage. Cavusoglu said the meeting has decided to continue these meetings periodically.

The next meetings will be held in Turkey, and then in Moscow. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s said, in his remarks and replies to media questions said, “This is first meeting at foreign ministers level on the Syrian crisis. We emphasised the importance of political solution to the Syrian crisis, and this meeting is not alternative to the Astana path." Lavrov added that the parties held three high level meetings before and stressed that this meeting is not new path and our talks focused on the grave humanitarian crisis and efforts to mitigate the suffering of Syrian people. Lavrov noted that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the Western countries on Syrian regime are hindering the peace process in Syria. The meeting agreed on fighting terror, he said, stressing free and peaceful return of Syrian refugees and displaced people to their homes and places, and called for release of detainees. Regarding the upcoming Afghanistan meeting in Moscow on March 18, Lavrov pointed out that the trilateral meeting seeks solution to end the Afghan crisis. “Russia is not competing with Qatar or any other country”, he said, adding his country supports the progress made in Doha and putting more efforts to push towards further progress in the Afghan peace negotiation. Speaking about the Afghan meeting in Moscow, H E Sheikh Mohammed said there is continues coordination between Qatar and Russia in this regard and there is no competition or new path to the negotiations in Doha. Moscow’s meeting is to support the peace efforts, he said, stressing that Qatar-Russia relation is based on trust, transparency and cooperation in many fields. Russia has invited Qatar to attend the upcoming Afghan meeting in Moscow, he added. On Qatar-Syria bilateral relations and possibility of opening embassies, and restoration of Syria to its seat in the Arab League, Sheikh Mohammed made it clear that there were reasons for suspension of Syria’s membership and these reasons are still there. Qatar will continue its support for the Syrian people until reaching a political solution to the crisis.