Items of the Russian-Turkish Memorandum of Understanding on Syrian Kurdistan

ARK News: Russia and Turkey have agreed, on Tuesday, a memorandum of understanding on Syrian Kurdistan, the following are the items of the Russian-Turkish Memorandum of Understanding.

Items of the Sochi Memorandum of Understanding:

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, agreed on the following points:

1. The two sides reaffirm their commitment to preserve the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria and to protect Turkey's national security.

2. The two sides affirmed their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to disrupt separatist programs in Syrian territory.

3. In this context, the status quo will be maintained in the current area of “Operation Spring” which covers Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain with a depth of 32 km.

4. The two sides reaffirm the importance of the “Adana Agreement”. The Russian Federation will facilitate the implementation of the Adana Agreement under the present circumstances.

5. As of 12:00 noon on October 23, 2019, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border, outside the area of Operation Spring of Peace, to facilitate the transport of YPG militants and their weapons to a depth of 30 km from the Turkish-Syrian border, which should be completed in 150 hours. At that moment, joint Russian-Turkish patrols will begin in the west and east from the area of Operation Spring at a depth of 10 km, with the exception of Qamishlo city.

6. All YPG militants and their weapons will be removed from Manbij and Tal Rif’at.

7. The two sides will take the necessary measures to prevent the infiltration of terrorist elements.

8. Joint efforts will be made to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees.

9. A joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to oversee and coordinate the implementation of this Memorandum.

10. The two sides will continue to work for a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict within the Astana Mechanism and will support the activities of the Constitutional Committee.

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