ISTANBUL: The Syrian government and rebels swapped prisoners Saturday in a “first important step” in building trust between the warring sides under a Russia-Iran-Turkey-brokered peace process, Turkey’s foreign ministry said Saturday.
“Certain individuals” were exchanged simultaneously in northwest of Syria, near the town of Al-Bab close to Aleppo, the ministry said, calling it a “pilot project.”
While it did not give a precise figure of detainees involved, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on sources in Syria, said 10 prisoners from each side were exchanged.
Russia, Iran and Turkey are working to bring about peace in Syria under what is known as the Astana process.
Each country plays a key role in the conflict that started in March 2011. Russia and Iran have intervened on the side of Syria’s government, ensuring its survival, while Turkey supports rebel groups in northern Syria to prevent Syrian Kurds establishing and expanding territory along its border.
All of them say they are fighting Daesh fighters and other militants in the northern regions.
Turkey of late has become quieter about its initial stated aim of seeing Syrian President Bashar Assad leaving power as it has stepped up cooperation with Russia over Syria.
In September, Turkey and Russia agreed to set up the buffer zone to avert a Syrian regime offensive, but militants who hold around 70 percent of the area have refused to withdraw.
The Astana process has gradually come to eclipse a UN-sponsored negotiations framework known as the Geneva process whose participants include the United States and European powers that would be key donors in an international post-conflict reconstruction program for Syria.
Obstacles to securing Western reconstruction aid include an insistence by the US and EU on a transition that would see Assad go, as well as the presence of Iranian and Iranian-commanded fighters in Syria.
Syria regime and rebels swap prisoners, Turkey says
Syria regime and rebels swap prisoners, Turkey says
The art of war: fears for masterpieces on loan to Louvre Abu Dhabi
- UAE paid more than €1 billion to borrow priceless works, but experts in France want them back
PARIS: The Middle East war has raised fears for the safety of priceless masterpieces on loan from France to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the museum’s only foreign branch.
The Abu Dhabi museum, which opened in 2017, has so far escaped damage from nearly 1,800 Iranian drone and missile strikes launched since the conflict erupted on Feb. 28.
However, concerns are mounting in France. “The works must be removed,” said Didier Selles, who helped broker the original agreement between France and the UAE.
French journal La Tribune de l’Art echoed that alarm. “The Louvre’s works in Abu Dhabi must be secured!” it said.
France’s culture ministry said French authorities were “in close and regular contact with the authorities of the UAE to ensure the protection of the works loaned by France.”
Under the agreement with the UAE, France agreed to provide expertise, lend works of art and organize exhibitions, in return for €1 billion, including €400 million for licensing the use of the Louvre name. The deal was extended in 2021 to 2047 for an additional €165 million.
Works on loan include paintings by Rembrandt and Chardin, Classical statues of Isis, Roman sarcophagi and Islamic masterpieces: such as the Pyxis of Al-Mughira.
A Louvre Abu Dhabi source said the museum was designed to protect collections from both security threats and natural disasters.
