Erdogan's aide hails Ankara-Moscow deal on Idlib

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a "diplomatic attempt" to prevent a major humanitarian crisis in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday.

Kalin's remarks came after Turkey and Russia on Monday agreed to turn Idlib into a demilitarized zone after a meeting between Erdogan and his counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia's coastal city of Sochi.

Ankara and Moscow signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the stabilization of the situation in Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are prohibited.

"According to the agreement: The opposition will remain in areas in which they are already present. Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols. Russia will take measures to prevent attack on Idlib," Kalin said on Twitter.