Russia never presses Syria on agreements deemed unacceptable
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Former Russian diplomat Vyacheslav Matuzov stated on Tuesday to North Press that Russia is not pressuring Syria to accept agreements deemed unacceptable by the Syrian government.
When asked about Moscow’s seemingly diminished interest in facilitating normalization between Turkey and Syria, Matuzov clarified that any agreement between the two sides should align with the 1998 Adana Agreement, which both countries signed.
He noted that Moscow continues to advocate for this framework as the basis for resolving their differences.
The Adana Agreement, signed in October 1998, obliges Syria to prevent any activities on its territory that could threaten Turkey’s security and stability. However, the Syrian government insists that Turkey must first withdraw its forces from Syrian territory as a precondition for any normalization.
Earlier this month, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan stated that Russia is not exerting pressure on Damascus to advance normalization efforts and is maintaining a relatively neutral stance.
Matuzov expressed optimism about the potential for Syria and Turkey to find mutually acceptable solutions, while acknowledging the challenges both countries face in resolving their ongoing disputes, which he described as “World face dangerous times for future Turkey and Syria.”