On July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran took part in the summit of the guarantor countries of the Astana Process for Facilitating the Syrian Settlement and, together with his counterparts from Turkey and Iran, attacked the positions of the United States in Syria. Kommersant’s special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov clarifies that the interventions were verbal.

The presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey jointly protested the actions of the United States. This time in Syria

Photo: Dmitry Azarov, Kommersant

Tehran is a vast, extremely lively city, reminiscent of its liveliness (and someone will say, senseless fuss), for example, Istanbul or Cairo. That is, at the hour when we arrived here, traffic jams in the city were, without exaggeration, many kilometers long.

Now, when you look around here, you think, of course, about whether everything will be the same with us in ten years. Well, not so hopeless. Parallel imports seem to be doing their job, and the cars, though not new, are not Iranian. French, for example, something a lot. The Russian delegation at least left the airport in shameless foreign cars. For example, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was given a used Mercedes E-class with a driver. The thought that Russian government vice-premiers will soon be roaming the streets of Moscow in used E-class cars is a legitimate, if superficial, satisfaction.

With the help of VPN services, all instant messengers work, except for Telegram, which, apparently, is turned off manually (mine was dealt with about an hour after arrival).

The dull, one might say, ruinous appearance of Tehran, including its center, is firmly explained by the indigenous conscious residents by the fact that they are not allowed to build in the center in order to preserve the buildings in their original, deteriorating form (and in no case prevent their final destruction) , but in the north, for example, there are houses that cost millions (and here a hitch follows, since it is necessary to explain to outsiders in what currency, because one dollar costs 240 thousand rials. – A.K. ), just millions!. .

I asked if it was possible to at least put a stop to this endless and ugly street trading, which, like locusts, covered this generally great city with itself and inexorably, it seems, is eating it up. Blouses, socks, nightgowns, underpants, endless slippers… I was told no, by no means. After all, the Iranian people really need it. Is this all we will need soon?

The summit for which Mr. Putin flew to Tehran is dedicated to the Astana process, in which the fate of Syria has been discussed for many years. But in fact, in such a situation, bilateral meetings are more important. Until recently, Mr. Putin, Erdogan and Raisi, without a doubt, did not have a chance to see each other with their own eyes. But here it is. And although Iranian doctors are honestly warning that a new wave of coronavirus is beginning to overwhelm the country, no one at the summit seems to care. Thus, after bilateral meetings with Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, Vladimir Putin was to meet with the President of Turkey. At some point, it turned out that it was possible for me, for example, as well as three other journalists, to enter the negotiation room. Despite the fact that yesterday and today I was in the “gray” zone all day, that is, I did not observe the quarantine post, still critically necessary for the contemplation of this kind of meetings. But oh the times, oh mores still change, and the Russian protocol, and journalists, laughing, part with the darkest coronavirus past.

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The journalists in this press center are no strangers to fighting for seats with the Revolutionary Guards.

Photo: Dmitry Azarov, Kommersant

And now I could state that Mr. Putin, who entered the negotiations a few seconds earlier than the Turkish president, was standing and waiting for him in the negotiation room, but that was not and was not. Who knew that Mr. Erdogan would meet Dmitry Peskov in the corridor (press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation. – “Kommersant” ). The President of Turkey had already walked past him, but returned and spoke in his own, Turkish. “I haven’t seen me for a long time…” Mr. Peskov later justified himself embarrassedly. Meanwhile, the Russian president stood awkwardly under the cameras for three minutes, no less.

– We communicate often! – the Turkish president noted, and this was not according to the rules: Mr. Putin should have started. But, in fairness, the protocol rules between them have not worked for a long time.

It turned out to be the longest bilateral negotiations that day. The topic of the export of Ukrainian grain, according to eyewitnesses, was not the last on them.

“Relations are developing in spite of everything,” the Russian president told his Turkish counterpart.

Wonder what not to look at. Apparently, the fact that Turkey is a member of NATO.

We can assume that in the public part of the negotiations, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced some news:

– During the recent Istanbul talks (with the participation of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations – A.K. ), the position taken by the Russian side was very positive and constructive. Of course, the result that we will get after these negotiations will be discussed all over the world!

Recep Erdogan is concerned about this matter, it seems, the PR of his own country: the Minsk agreements may be replaced by the Istanbul agreements, which will be commemorated in vain still, maybe even more often.

At the tripartite meeting, the three presidents, participants in the peaceful Astana process, looked, without exaggeration, like hawks. They cared about the welfare of Syria, of course, but predictably:

– In Syria, there are still groups that work under the leadership of the United States! – said the President of Iran. – They, among other things, rob Syrian resources, especially oil! All of them must leave Syria!

Mr. Raisi could not help but pay attention to the behavior of Israel:

– The shelling of airports, civilian objects by Israel must stop! We are especially indignant at the occupation of the Golan Heights (still to this day— AK )! Israel understands who helps! Within the framework of the Astana process, we will establish justice in Syria!

However, all this in his mouth could look even more lively, that is, as usual.

Mr. Putin also generally did not hide his feelings:

– It is necessary to put an end to the presence of ISIS in Syria (this organization is banned in the Russian Federation. – Kommersant ) and other extremist groups. Let me stress that the state of affairs in the territories not controlled by the Syrian authorities is of particular concern. From there comes a real threat of extremism, separatism, crime… This is facilitated by the destructive line of Western states led by the United States!.. They encourage separatist sentiments in the country in every possible way.

It would be strange if Mr. Putin did not pay attention to the behavior of the United States in this region as well.

The ultimate task of the United States in Syria, in his opinion, is to bring the matter to the dismemberment of the state (not so in Ukraine . – A.K. ).

Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially seemed to feel joy:

What the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation Alexander Lavrentiev told Kommersant about Moscow’s work in the Syrian direction

— Inshallah, I hope we will meet more often!

But this did not last long:

“There is a terrorist threat,” he supported his colleagues. “The fight against terrorists must continue! You are my friends! But words do not help actions yet! The Kurdistan Workers’ Party needs to eradicate Syria! This is a terrorist nest! It’s time to destroy this terrorist organization!

Mr. Erdogan demonstrates consistency: on this day, he pledged to block the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO, due to the fact that the authorities of these countries do not seem to really want to deal with the “terrorist nest” of the Kurds in their countries.

And anyway, it was the day of Recep Erdogan. And his friends too, of course.

Yes, in Iran.

But what if there is nowhere else?

Andrei Kolesnikov, Tehran