Erdogan announces readiness to meet Syria’s Assad
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed on Monday that he was open to a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying that Turkey has never “shut the door” to discussions with the Syrian government.
However, Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul that setting the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian territory as a precondition for talks was “unacceptable”.
“We can hold a four-party summit [with Syria, Russia and Iran], and I am also open to a meeting with Assad,” Erdogan said.
“We are fighting against terrorism there. How can we withdraw when our country is under continuous threat from terrorists along our border,” the Turkish president added.
In December of 2022, Russia hosted first talks between Syrian and Turkish defense ministers since 2011.
The foreign ministers of the two countries also met in Moscow in May ahead of Turkish elections as part of talks overseen by Russia.
Turkey, during the years of Syria’s war, brokered the opposition factions against the Syrian government and conducted a number of military operations, during which it cut Syrian parts.