President on situation in Syria

December 6, 2017

Replying to media questions, Vladimir Putin commented on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, the results of the operation to liberate Syria from terrorists and the settlement prospects in that country.
Question: Mr President, there are reports that both banks of the Euphrates River have been freed from ISIS in Syria. Are you receiving reports about this? Could you please comment? How will the situation develop from here? How would you characterise it?
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Indeed, two hours ago the Defence Minister reported that operations on the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates River have been completed with the full defeat of the terrorists. Naturally, there still may be some isolated pockets of resistance but let me repeat that on the whole, at this stage and on that territory, combat action has been completed with the full defeat of the terrorists.
Now, in cooperation with other participants in this process, the Syrian Government, the countries of the region and the UN, we should naturally move to the next stage – the start of a political process, as we agreed at the trilateral meeting of the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey in Sochi, that is, establishing and holding theSyrian National Dialogue Congress, drafting a new Constitution and, as this process develops, holding presidential and parliamentary elections.
But this is a very difficult long-term job. To get started, it is necessary to take at least the first steps – consolidate the current situation and de-escalation zones, put a complete end to the bloodshed on Syrian territory and transition to a peaceful, political settlement process.

read more