Syrian minister accuses Turkey of sabotaging Idlib deal

Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Haydar has accused Turkey of sabotaging the Idlib deal brokered by Turkey and Russia in Sochi last September.

Under the deal rebels should have removed all heavy weapons from the buffer zone by October 10 but skirmishes have continued to pit regime forces against militants and other insurgents on the ground.

During a speech in Parliament, Mr Haydar said that “despite the postponement of military action, the political process is currently disrupted in Idlib because Turkey has not fulfilled its duties with regard to the implementation of the tripartite Sochi agreement”, pro-regime Syrian newspaper Al Watan reported.

“It is impossible to talk about reconciliation or deal making”, he stressed, accusing the Turkish-backed armed groups in Idlib of “contradictions” and “continued struggle for influence”. Mr Haydar insisted on the fragility of the situation in Idlib, comparing it to “someone standing on a ball”.

Source: Syrian minister accuses Turkey of sabotaging Idlib deal – The National