Once again, the sides affirmed the aspiration to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity under Russia’s pressure, and this goes to show that Turkey’s 'big appetite' and pretensions were suppressed since Moscow doesn’t affirm them. This is what Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Yerevan State University, Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am today.

He clarified that Turkey agrees that its presence in Syria is temporary and that it recognizes Syria’s territorial integrity.

“Whereas Russia’s presence in Syria is lawful, Turkey’s presence in the Syrian Arab Republic is only conditioned by its aspiration to ensure security in the buffer zone,” Melkonyan stated, adding that Turkey presented itself to Russia and the whole world as an irresponsible partner that often violates its obligations.

During talks held in Moscow yesterday, Presidents of Russia and Turkey Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on ceasefire and several other actions that are targeted at the solution to the situation in Syria’s Idlib province. Based on their agreements, military operations will cease along the entire length of contact in Idlib on March 6.