Erdogan, Putin talk on phone about Syria

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday about a cease-fire agreement in Syria set to begin at midnight local time (2200 GMT) on Dec. 30.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the Bashar al-Assad regime and the Syrian opposition had agreed to a nationwide cease-fire, adding that Turkey viewed this as a “significant step”.

Kalin said: "Turkey, with Russia, supports it [the cease-fire] as guarantor countries."

The cease-fire, however, would not apply to terrorist groups listed by UN Security Council, Kalin added.

Erdogan and Putin also discussed an upcoming meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan where representatives of the Syrian regime and opposition will meet under Turkey and Russia’s guidance.

The Astana meeting is part of efforts between Turkey and Russia to launch a political process in Syria.

*Reporting by Baris Gundogan; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday about a cease-fire agreement in Syria set to begin at midnight local time (2200 GMT) on Dec. 30.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the Bashar al-Assad regime and the Syrian opposition had agreed to a nationwide cease-fire, adding that Turkey viewed this as a “significant step”.

Kalin said: "Turkey, with Russia, supports it [the cease-fire] as guarantor countries."

The cease-fire, however, would not apply to terrorist groups listed by UN Security Council, Kalin added.

Erdogan and Putin also discussed an upcoming meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan where representatives of the Syrian regime and opposition will meet under Turkey and Russia’s guidance.

The Astana meeting is part of efforts between Turkey and Russia to launch a political process in Syria.

*Reporting by Baris Gundogan; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan