With de Mistura's submission of his resignation, the anti-UNSCR 2254 proposals have returned to the fore, by both the opposition-linked extremists, and the regime-linked extremists.

A statement was issued today on behalf of the Syrian Negotiating Commission on the work done during its periodic meeting. Our representative has recorded his objection to two points in the statement. His objection has not been taken into consideration by the Commission. It is therefore necessary to clarify that our position on these two points is contrary to the position mentioned in the Commission's statement:

The Sochi Agreement on the demilitarized zone in Idlib proceeds within its time limits, and the Russians reiterate that the situation is temporary and that the end of terrorism in Idlib will be completed. The Americans – after the deployment of S300, and the difficulty of decoupling the Russian-Turkish consensus – do not rely much on obstruction in Idlib. They continue laying mines inside the other files on the path of political settlement of the crisis, and we can read the current behavior of the Americans as follows:

Skirmishes in the South China Sea; Accusing China of interfering in the US elections and stealing US technology; a new tariffs and sanctions campaign; NATO accusing Russia of pirate attacks, even talking about «beating Russia»… A new week elapsed full of fiery statements. Is there anything new?!

It is no secret that the last session of the United Nations General Assembly has clearly demonstrated the change in the international balance of forces, as expressed by Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister: "Numerous problems of the modern time can be resolved only on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Dictate and coercion, so typical of the colonial era, are to be once and for all… left on the ash heap of history".

Last week witnessed two important events. The first is the signing of the Idleb Agreement in Sochi by Russia and Turkey based on Astana's formula. The second is the Zionist aggression on targets in the province of Latakia that led, among other losses, to downing of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft and the killing of 15 Russian military servicemen on board.

A few hours ago [18 September 2018], a statement was issued by the Syrian Negotiating Commission on its position on the recent Russian-Turkish agreement. In what follows is our position on that statement:

Today's summit in Sochi [17th September, 2018] between the Russian and Turkish presidents marked an important and significant step forward towards ending terrorism in Syria as well as towards consolidating the political solution to the crisis. The fourth de-escalation zone has gained greater momentum by becoming co-sponsored by Russia and Turkey, and this will help to get rid of the internationally classified terrorist groups more rapidly. This process will take place in accordance with new ways and methods different from what has been followed in other regions, for several considerations, the most important of which:

The propaganda campaign concerning the ongoing preparations for the restoration of Idleb governorate to the authority of the Syrian state, is continuing and expanding under the banner of caring for the civilians. It is clear that this campaign –  in which all the forces of obstruction are involved from the United States to its regional allies, to some Syrian opposition forces – aims to prevent the elimination of the Terrorist organization of Al-Nusra Front, and this is meant to perpetuate the abnormal situation in Idlib, allowing Syria to remain hostage to Western countries, their mined solutions and their own reconstruction projects, to try to freeze the status quo, leading to division and fragmentation, blocking any gaining of the antecedent accrued benefits from the path of Astana to go on toward a political solution.

The Tehran meeting of the three countries (Russia – Iran – Turkey) has many implications in terms of form and content, whether through the Troika's confirmation of prior consensus or the newly emerging consensus contained in the final communiqué.