Europe

Turkey: Latest Syria talks open path for political solution

Associated Press
Published | Updated

From left, Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Onal, Russia's special envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov, UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaber Ansari pose for a photo after the final statement following the talks on Syrian peace in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Russia, Iran and Turkey _ sponsors of talks in Kazakhstan between Syria and rebel factions _ pledged Tuesday to consolidate the country's nearly month-old cease-fire and set up a three-way mechanism to ensure compliance of all sides. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (The Associated Press)

Mohammed Alloush, head of a Syrian opposition delegation, center, speaks to the media after the talks on Syrian peace in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Russia, Iran and Turkey _ sponsors of talks in Kazakhstan between Syria and rebel factions _ pledged Tuesday to consolidate the country's nearly month-old cease-fire and set up a three-way mechanism to ensure compliance of all sides. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (The Associated Press)

Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Onal, left, and Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov shake hands, as Russia's special envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaber Ansari, right, shake hands and UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura stand after the final statement following the talks on Syrian peace in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Russia, Iran and Turkey _ sponsors of talks in Kazakhstan between Syria and rebel factions _ pledged Tuesday to consolidate the country's nearly month-old cease-fire and set up a three-way mechanism to ensure compliance of all sides. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (The Associated Press)

Turkey's prime minister says an agreement between Russia, Turkey and Iran on how to monitor a cease-fire between warring parties in Syria marks a "serious diplomatic success."

Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday that the agreement could pave the way for a political solution in the war-torn nation.

The deal was announced by the three countries the previous day, at the end of two-day Syria talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, between the Syrian government and rebel factions.

Yildirim says that after Astana, "work has started" ahead of Syria negotiations hosted by the United Nations, planned in Geneva on Feb. 8.

He says a political solution for Syria would include a new Syrian administration, maintain Syria's territorial integrity and represent all factions. He made no mention of Syrian President Bashar Assad.