Russia proposes “roadmap” for thawing Syria-Turkey ties
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised on Wednesday current steps towards thawing ties between Syria and Turkey and proposed a roadmap for this regard.
Foreign ministers of Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Iran are meeting today in Moscow over efforts to end decades of tension between Syria and Turkey.
“The best result of our discussion today would be an agreement to instruct experts to prepare a draft roadmap for Syrian-Turkish normalisation for the next ministerial meeting,” Lavrov said.
The Russian foreign minister noted, “We hope that our talks will contribute to laying out a roadmap for restoring Syrian-Turkish relations to normal.”
In December of 2022, Russia hosted first talks between Syrian and Turkish defense ministers since 2011.
Turkey, during the years of war, brokered the opposition factions against the Syrian government and conducted a number of military operations, during which it cut Syrian parts.
In late April, Russia hosted talks between defense ministers of Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Iran.
Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that all ministers of the four countries gathered in Moscow to discuss the Turkish withdrawal, as well as “the implementation of the agreement on the M4 International Highway,” according to state-run SANA News Agency.
However, a senior Turkish official said that the withdrawal of Turkey’s troops from Syria was not discussed in the latest round of talks between Syria, Iran, Russia, and Turkey’s diplomats in Moscow.
A final statement is expected to be released following the four-way meeting later today.