Joint mechanism of Russia, Iran, Turkey already allows monitoring Syria ceasefire - Lavrov

ABU DHABI, February 1. /TASS/. A joint mechanism created by Russia, Iran and Turkey already allows monitoring the ceasefire implementation in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the Russian-Arab cooperation forum in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. "The ceasefire generally holds," Lavrov said. "Russia, Turkey and Iran set up a mechanism that already allows monitoring the ceasefire implementation. A position was formed in line with which all armed opposition’s units were invited to join the ceasefire and the political talks." "We are thankful for the support of initiative that led to holding the international meeting on Syria in Astana. We note that for the first time the meeting involved the sides that confront each other in Syria with arms in their hands," Lavrov said. "The sides gathered at the moment when they agreed on the ceasefire." Lavrov said several days before the meeting in the Kazakh capital on January 23-24 a number of groups of the southern front of the Syrian opposition also joined the ceasefire with the support of Jordan. Read more