Al-Assad stresses dialogue with Turkey depends on ending “occupation”
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday that Syria would not go forward in dialogue with Turkey unless the latter end its “occupation and support for terrorist organizations”.
Al-Assad’s remarks came during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in the Syrian capital Damascus.
For his part, Abdollahian expressed his confidence in the political decisions and stances taken by the Syrian government.
The Iranian minister added Tehran believes that any dialogue between Syria and Turkey, if serious, is a positive step for both countries.
The visit comes at a time in which Turkey seeks to normalize with the Syrian government under Russian mediation.
In a meeting with Russia’s Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev on Thursday, al-Assad said that meetings with Turkey should aim at ending the latter’s “occupation and support for terrorism.”
Al-Assad said that in order for the meetings to be “fruitful” and reach “tangible goals and results”, the tripartite meetings should be “based on prior coordination and planning between Syria and Russia.”