Rouhani: Syrian Nation Has Final Say in Syria’s Future

“In any solution for the future of Syria, the Syrian people must have the main and ultimate role,” President Rouhani said in a tripartite summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Iranian capital today.

The Iranian president described cooperation between Iran, Russia and Turkey as reliable for restoring peace to Syria and for long-term cooperation at the regional and global stages.

President Rouhani said that given the complexities of the Syrian crisis, it was very important for the three countries of Iran, Russia and Turkey to achieve a common framework based on the fundamental principles of preserving territorial integrity and integrity of Syria and respect for national sovereignty and the right of the Syrian people to determine the future of their country in attempting to quell the flames of war in Syria.

“The unlawful presence and intervention of the United States in Syria, which has led to the continuation of insecurity in the country, should end immediately,” he added.

The Iranian president reiterated that “today’s summit is being held in continuation of the successful efforts of the three countries” within the framework of the Astana Process to effectively confront terrorism and put an end to the Syrian crisis, based on the demands of the majority of the Syrians, and said, “This summit is also an opportunity to discuss our joint actions in the current and future stages.”

“From the outset, we have emphasized the inefficiency of a military solution to ending the Syrian crisis, and we are now pleased that after seven years of the Syrian crisis and based on the experience gained, the settlement of the Syrian crisis and other similar crises in the region through peaceful means has become a popular belief among the dominant actors,” he added. “Our efforts over the past years, especially after concentrating activities in the context of the Astana Process, have always been based on facilitating Syrian-Syrian dialogue and encouraging the government and the opposition to join the process.”

The Iranian president underlined that Iran’s presence in Syria is at the request of the Syrian government and to fight terrorism in the country, and the continuation of this presence will be on this basis, and said, “At the same time, this presence, neither in the past nor at present, has not been – and will not be – aimed at imposing its opinion, and will support the will of the Syrian people as a friendly nation.”

President Rouhani said that fighting terrorism is a common international demand, but when the implementation of these demands comes within the framework of the recognized borders of another state and nation, it will not be possible to do so unless it happens through explicit request and clear consent of that country.

“We understand the concerns of some countries in the region about the threat of terrorism and separatism, but we consider cooperation with the Syrian government the most effective and lasting way to address these concerns, and believe that other solutions, including through direct intervention and without coordination with the Syrian government, will lead to the deepening of the crisis,” the Iranian president added.

The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey held a meeting in Tehran on Syria in on Friday.

The meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani focused on Syrian issues, specially the Damascus Army’s pending operation to capture Idlib.