30 October 2018•Update: 31 October 2018
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW
Russia confirms that Turkey is making great efforts to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib, Kremlin spokesperson said Tuesday.
We do not see a threat of violation for the Russian-Turkish memorandum in this Syrian province, Dmitry Peskov told journalists during a daily conference-call in Moscow.
"Unfortunately, not everything goes according to the plan -- or, according to the ideal plan that was worked out," Peskov said.
"But, as [President Vladimir] Putin said, we accept it understandingly, because indeed the situation there is extremely difficult," he added.
On Sept. 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Putin agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.
Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.
Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.
