Türkiye affirms efforts to normalize relations with Syria, without preconditions

Türkiye severed ties with the Damascus government after conflict broke out in Syria in 2011.

Türkiye affirms efforts to normalize relations with Syria. (Source: Getty)

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on September 3 welcomed Russia's efforts to establish cooperation between Ankara and Damascus, affirming that it will continue efforts to prepare conditions for normalizing relations between the two countries in good faith and without preconditions.

“We welcome Russia’s efforts to establish cooperation between our country and the Damascus government. We want to see in Syria a neighboring country whose people are returning, living in peace with their own people and society, achieving genuine national reconciliation...

We would like to stress the need to work towards this in good faith, without preconditions and with a pragmatic approach. Efforts to prepare the necessary groundwork within this framework will continue."

Previously, on August 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that a four-way meeting of Russia-Iran-Türkiye-Syria on normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus would take place in the near future.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on June 28 that he did not rule out the possibility of a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad to restore bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

Ankara severed ties with the Damascus government after the conflict broke out in Syria in 2011. Turkey has carried out several cross-border military operations against militants it says threaten its national security, and established a “safe zone” in northern Syria where Turkish troops are stationed.

However, Ankara said it could restore relations with Damascus if progress is made in the fight against terrorism, the voluntary and safe repatriation of millions of Syrian refugees in Türkiye, and the political process.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tho-nhi-ky-khang-dinh-no-luc-binh-thuong-hoa-quan-he-voi-syria-khong-kem-theo-dieu-kien-tien-quyet-284900.html