The active phase of Russia’s counterterrorism operation in Syria is coming to an end, Russia’s Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov said on Monday. He made the statement during the trilateral meeting with the chiefs of General Staff of Turkey and Iran in Sochi, TASS reports. “I expect that today we will find common approaches to continue further work in the Syrian direction,” Gerasimov said. The three countries’ joint efforts helped to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, stop the civil war and create conditions to restore peace, according to Gerasimov.