Syrian conflict settlement is priority for Russia, Turkey - Russian PM Medvedev

GORKI, December 6. /TASS/. A settlement of the ongoing conflict in Syria is one of the priority tasks both for Russia and Turkey, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday. The Russian premier said the Syrian conflict settlement was one of the issues he discussed today during the talks in Moscow with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. "We have agreed that the normalization of the Syrian situation is a priority task for our countries and it will definitely serve to the benefit of the whole region, not to mention Syria, which is currently in a very complicated situation," Medvedev told a news conference after the meeting with Yildirim. The Russian premier also said they proceed from the fact that "the Syrian settlement as well as the future of the country is, first of all, the issue of the Syrian interior dialogue." "Everything should be done within the frames of all processes, which were prepared by the people of Syria," Medvedev stated. A dialogue between Russia and Turkey on Syria has been restored in full and will be continued, Medvedev said adding that "good negotiations" are underway between the Russian and Turkish presidents as well as defense ministries regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria and the fight against terrorism. "This kind of dialogue is very useful. I must admit that some time ago it just did not exist. Currently, it has been restored to the full, and I am sure that this kind of dialogue between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey will continue," Medvedev said. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the Syrian problem now looks closer to its settlement. "The Syrian problem now looks closer to its settlement. Steps in this direction will continue," the Turkish premier said. Yildirim said that the Syrian conflict settlement requires "the dialogue and coordinated efforts" otherwise "undesirable consequences" could ensue. He said that Turkey had been recently maintaining productive relations with Russia on the Syrian issue both at the diplomatic and military levels. "We definitely want to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo and want people living there to have access to humanitarian aid," Yildirim said. "Both sides are implying the necessary efforts regarding this issue." Read more