ASTANA. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Russia, Turkey, and Iran, as the guarantor countries of the Astana Process promoting a settlement in Syria, believe that the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib should not undermine Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"Under no circumstances the creation of the above-mentioned de-escalation area should undermine the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic," the guarantor countries said in a joint statement at consultations on a settlement process in Syria in Astana.
Russia, Turkey, and Iran also "stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire while underlining the necessity to continue effective fight against terrorism."
The guarantor countries also "reaffirmed their determination to continue cooperation in order to ultimately eliminate DAESH/ISIL, Nusra Front [both banned in Russia as terrorist organizations] and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaeda [banned in Russia] or DAESH/ISIL as designated by the UN Security Council," the statement says.
Russia, Turkey, and Iran "called upon all armed opposition groups in Syria to completely and immediately dissociate from the above-mentioned terrorist groups," it says.