Turkish, Iranian FMs call for ceasefire in Syria before Geneva conference

The foreign ministers of Turkey and Iran called Nov. 27 for a ceasefire in Syria before peace talks in Geneva scheduled for Jan. 22.

“All our efforts are to end the conflict and for a ceasefire if possible, even before the Geneva 2 conference takes place,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a news conference in Tehran with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Davutoğlu said: “We should not wait for this two months” before the peace conference convenes. “The Syrian people are in a worsening situation.”

Iran and Turkey support opposing sides in the 2-1/2-year-old Syrian conflict, but the joint ceasefire call suggests the regional rivals are now more willing to work together.