Turkey to host four-nation summit on Syria crisis

Russia and Turkey reached an agreement last month to set up a demilitarised zone in Idlib

TOPSHOT - Syrians ride their motorcycles past a damaged building in the Syrian city of Raqa on October 18, 2018. A year after a US-backed alliance of Syrian fighters drove the Islamic State group from the northern city of Raqa, traumatised civilians still live in fear of near-daily bombings. / AFP / Delil souleiman

Syrians ride their motorcycles past a damaged building in the Syrian city of Raqqa on October 18, 2018. AFP

Oct 19, 2018

A Turkish official says a summit between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Russia will be held in Istanbul this month to discuss the conflict in Syria.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, in a written statement Friday said a summit will take place on October 27.

Russia and Turkey reached an agreement last month to set up a demilitarised zone around the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib preventing a government offensive on the last rebel stronghold in the country.

Mr Kalin said all aspects of the Syrian conflict are expected to be discussed, including the situation on the ground, the Idlib agreement as well as efforts for a lasting solution to the conflict.