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Turkey, Russia, Iran condemn US decision on Syrian Golan

ANKARA, April 26 (KUNA) -- Turkey, Russia and Iran deplored on Friday the US decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
This came in a joint statement read out by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi at the end of the three guarantor countries' meeting over Syria in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan City.
The US recognition of Israeli rule over Golan is a violation of the international laws, mainly the UN Security Council Resolution 497, and poses a threat to peace and security in the Middle East region, Turkish Anadolu Agency (AA) quoted Tleuberdi as saying. The three guarantor countries of the Astana process for peace in Syria reiterated their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, it said.
The statement rejected the "separatist" agenda, which targets the national security of Syria's neighboring countries, pointing out that the three countries will go on consultations on the situation in the northeastern Syria.
It affirmed the continuation of countering the so-called Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities designated as terrorists by the UN Security Council.
It noted that the concerned parties discussed in detail the situation in the de-escalation zone in the province of Idlib, northwest of Syria.
The statement underlined the need to implement the full terms of the Sochi agreement signed by Turkey and Russia last September.
It affirmed commitment of the parties to the UN-sponsored political stage, noting that the parties agreed on holding consultative meetings in Geneva City to accelerate the formation of the constituent committee to write Syria's constitution.
The guarantor countries discussed the possibility of adding new observer countries to the talks to be hosted by Kazakhstan on Syria, according to the declaration.
In this context, the parties agreed to invite Iraq and Lebanon along with Jordan and the United Nations, it made clear.
They affirmed the necessity of the access of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people without prior conditions, calling on the UN and the international community to increase their assistance to Syria, it said.
The next meeting of the guarantor countries will be held in the Kazakh capital next July. (end) rs.maa.hm