Putin, Macron agree to facilitate peace in war-torn Syria

MOSCOW, Mar 06 (TASS): Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday on the situation in Syria in the context of the ongoing international efforts to eliminate the hotbeds of terrorism there.

"The two sides stressed the importance of persistent implementation of the UN Security Council's Resolution 2401 that provides, among other things, for the evacuation of civilians from the areas of combat operations, the opening of humanitarian access to Eastern Ghouta and other regions of Syria, and medical aid to the afflicted population," the Kremlin press service said.

"The two presidents agreed to keep up contacts at various levels for the purpose of assisting the process of settlement of the Syrian conflict," it said.

An AFP report adds: The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey are set to meet in Kazakhstan next week as the three countries attempt to move forward with a plan to end nearly seven years of war in Syria.

Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the top diplomats of regime allies Moscow and Tehran and rebel-backer Turkey would hold a March 16 meeting in the capital Astana "without observers or Syrian sides."

The statement also said that the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura would be invited to the meeting.

The announcement comes as Syrian regime forces intensify bombardment of the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus.