Shaibani hosts Fidan in Damascus for bilateral talks
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Damascus on Sunday for talks on bilateral ties, regional developments, security, energy, and the economy.
The meeting took place at Tishreen Palace, followed by a joint press conference during which the two sides announced the activation of the Joint High-Level Committee and a roadmap for bilateral cooperation.
According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and activating the Joint High-Level Committee between the two countries. The ministers also discussed several issues of mutual interest and reviewed the latest regional developments.
The ministry said the committee would serve as an institutional framework for political, diplomatic, economic and security tracks, as well as energy, return, education and cultural affairs. It will operate under joint leadership, with regular meetings, a permanent secretariat and sectoral committees.
During the joint press conference, Fidan said the talks covered several issues, including a planned visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Syria.
Fidan said resolving the issue of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and its full integration into the Syrian state would be an important step.
He also said the removal of Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism had eliminated one obstacle to its economic integration.
Fidan warned that Israel continued to target Syria’s capabilities, saying this constituted indirect support for the Islamic State (ISIS). He added that such attacks harmed policies aimed at achieving stability and positive developments in Syria.