Russia seeks to advance Turkish-Syrian normalization efforts
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Moscow called for a quadrilateral meeting to push forward the Turkish-Syrian normalization efforts. This aligns with the preparations being made for the 21st round of the Astana format on Syria.
This statement was issued by the Special Presidential Representative to the Middle East and Countries of Africa, the Deputy Russian Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov.
Bogdanov commented on the quadrilateral meeting saying, “No date has been set yet but we believe – and we have said this to our friends in Damascus, Ankara and, naturally, in Tehran – that we have no time to lose and need to act as quickly as possible, moving forward in that direction because it is the right direction.”
The first quadrilateral meeting took place on May 10, attended by the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Iran. During the meeting, it was decided to appoint deputy foreign ministers to draft a roadmap for enhancing the relations between Damascus and Ankara.
Bogdanov also pointed out that Russia was currently refining a roadmap on normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus. “In Astana, we presented a draft that we had developed. However, there has to be a common document and it needs to be based on consensus. The roadmap should suit everyone.”
During the last Astana meeting for Syria in June, Russia announced that the four parts of the meeting discussed the draft of the roadmap, and added that it needs more work.
The Syrian government stated in many events that withdrawing the Turkish troops from Syria is a precondition for normalizing ties with Turkey. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to withdraw, citing fight against ‘terrorism’.
Bogdanov pointed out that “two delegations from Syria will participate in the Astana format.”
The last two meetings were held in the 20th round of the Astana format on June 20-21, with the participation of representatives from the UN, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq as observers.