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Turkish, French leaders discuss situation in E. Ghouta

ANKARA, March 4 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed by phone on Sunday the humanitarian disaster in the besieged Eastern Ghouta in Syria.
The two leaders agreed to intensify top-level diplomatic talks to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 2401 on ceasefire in the region, located some 10 km. to the east of central Damascus.
They also agreed to work together for paving the way for providing humanitarian aid to the nearly 400,000 civilians in the region, Turkey's Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing a presidential source.
The conversation came amid attacks by Syrian regime forces on civilians in the opposition-hold area despite the UNSC resolution and international calls for humanitarian truce.
President Erdogan briefed President Macron on plans to convene a trilateral summit by leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran in Istanbul as early as April.
He also reviewed the decision to form a Syrian constituent assembly, reached during the Sochi Congress, in late January and the efforts to revive the Geneva process.
The two leaders agreed to continue dialogue on Syria and other regional issues.
Regarding Turkey's Operation Olive Branch, Erdogan said it aims to eradicate the threats posed to the Turkey's national security by YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, and restore peace to Afrin region, northwest Syria.
He also briefed Macron on the outcomes of his last week tour of Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal and Mali. Erdogan condemned the terrorist attack on French embassy and cultural center in Burkina Faso last Friday. (end) fs.gb