Turkey and Russia sign a 10-item agreement concerning further cooperation in Syria
At the end of the meeting between President Erdogan and Russian leader Putin in Sochi, a 10-item agreement was reached on a new accord for the creation of a safe zone in Syria’s north along the Turkish border. According to the agreement, both countries will start joint patrols in Syria and all YPG elements will be taken out of Menbic and Tel Rifat.
The content of the 10 item agreement is as follows
1- Both sides reaffirm their commitment to the protection of Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity and protection of Turkey’s national security.
2- They emphasize their determination to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism and to break apart separatist agendas on Syrian territory.
3- In this framework, the established status quo in the existing 32 km deep Peace Spring Operation including Tel Abyad and Ras Al Ayn will be maintained.
4- Both sides confirm the importance of the Adana Agreement. The Russian Federation will facilitate the implementation of the Adana Agreement under current conditions.
5- Starting 12:00 hr. October 23, 2019 the Russian military police and the Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian part of Turkey-Syria border outside the Peace Fountain of Operations field to ensure exclusion of the YPG elements and weapons to 30 km from Turkey-Syria border. This process will be completed within 150 hours. At the same time, Turkish-Russian joint patrols will begin at a depth of 10 km to the east and west of the existing Peace Spring Operation area, except for the city of Qamishli.
6- All YPG elements will be removed from Manbij and Tel Rıfat with their weapons.
7- Both Parties shall take the necessary measures to ensure the prevention of the infiltration of terrorist elements.
8- Joint efforts will be made to facilitate the safe and voluntary repatriation of refugees.
9- A joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to oversee and coordinate the implementation of this memorandum.
10-The Parties shall continue their efforts to find a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict within the framework of the Astana Mechanism and support the activities of the Constitutional Committee.
