So there were these headlines that made claims like Russia was telling Turkey to 'get 'er done' (paraphrasing) Stuff like that. Israeli spin (hasbara on line) is very big on this idea of Russia and Turkey being at odds? Are they? It's not at all clear that is the case.Russia tells Turkey to do more to clear Syria's Idlib of militants
"Given the extremely difficult situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, we expect our Turkish partners to activate their efforts to ultimately turn the tide and to fully carry out the obligations they took upon themselves...,"
Link to another report containing the partial quote
"Given the extremely difficult situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, we expect our Turkish partners to activate their efforts to ultimately turn the tide and to fully carry out the obligations they took upon themselves...,"
So there was more to this statement then is quoted above? As readers here know, I despise out of context quoting. Preferring as much primary documentation as possibleSANA:
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin renewed the need to fully eradicate terrorism and not to allow terrorists hotbeds to remain on Syrian territory.“De-escalation zone in Idleb is the last remaining de-escalation zone out of four ones established in 2017. And since the very beginning we have mentioned in all our agreements on de-escalation zones the main point,(de-escalation zones)are a temporary measure,”Novosti quoted Vershinin as saying on Friday.
” We consider it (Idleb)as an integral part of the Syrian State and Syrian territory, and this means that we cannot leave unaddressed any ‘hotbeds’ of terrorism on the Syrian territory,” the Russian official said.
Verchinin, recalling the Russian president’s words, stated that sooner or later terrorism should be eradicated, saying that if a military operation does take place in Idleb, it will be “carried out in the most effective manner,”
On the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, Verchinin said that such arbitrary attacks on sovereign Syrian territories “must stop”, adding that “any such attacks will destabilize the situation,”
The Russian diplomat said that a new round of Astana talks on the crisis in Syria under the auspices of the Guarantor States (Russia, Iran and Turkey) is scheduled to be held in the Kazakh capital next March.” A high-level meeting in Astana to be held within about a month and a half to implement the agreements and decisions to be adopted in Sochi.”
The Russian diplomat stressed that the withdrawal of US troops from Syria and the situation in Idleb are among the most important topics to be on the table of Sochi.Moscow had earlier announced that the summit of the guarantors of the Astana process on Syria would be held in the Russian city of Sochi on February 14.
Makes me wonder if the partial out of context statement referenced any type of joint operations between Russia and Turkey with regard to Idlib? This idea has been bandied about for a bit now..January 23/19 Russia & Turkey to "Stabilize" Idlib- No Details Forthcoming
Putin said that the leaders discussed the situation in Idlib "in great detail today.""We have a shared conviction that we must continue jointly fighting terrorists wherever they are, including in the Idlib zone," the Russian leader said.
Keep in mind this news from a few days ago
From my desk it appears that Iran, Russia and Turkey are gearing up for their next set of meetings and the 5 eyes media is spinning discord.