Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and inellgince chief Hakan Fidan arriving in Moscow before meeting with their Syrian counterparts. Source: the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has praised the breakthrough meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Ali Mahmud Abbas, which was held in the Russian capital, Moscow, on December 28.
The meeting, which lasted for around two hours, was also attended by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization chief, Hakan Fidan, the head of Syria’s National Security Bureau, Ali Mamlouk, in addition to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The trilateral talks marked the first official meeting between Ankara and Damascus defense ministers in more than a decade.
“At the meeting, we discussed what can be done to ensure that the situation in Syria and the region develops positively as soon as possible, and to ensure peace, tranquility and stability,” Akar said in a statement after the meeting.
The minister said that he conveyed Turkey’s views and evaluations and listened to the evaluations of other parties during the meeting.
“One of the most important issues we raised at the meeting was the fight against terrorism. We emphasized that we respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty rights of all our neighbors, especially Syria and Iraq, that our sole aim is the fight against terrorism, and that we have no other purpose,” Akar said. “We stated that we aim to neutralize members of terrorist organizations such as [the Kurdish] PKK/YPG and Daesh [ISIS], which also pose a threat to Syria.”
According to the minister, the Turkish delegation said during the meeting that “it is making efforts to ensure the security of the country, people and borders.”
“We also stated that we are making efforts to prevent further migration from Syria to Turkey within the framework of these studies. We emphasized that the Syrian problem should be resolved in an inclusive and holistic manner within the framework of UNSC Resolution 2254,” Akar said.
Akar revealed that the trilateral talks will continue, adding that Turkey “will make the necessary contributions” to ensure peace in Syria.
From its side, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a brief statement that the trilateral meeting between the Syrian, Turkish, and Russian defense ministers was “positive.”
The meeting in Moscow was the most recent in a series of Russian-sponsored steps which are meant to restore ties between Turkey and Syria. Relations between Ankara and Damascus, who were close allies, collapsed in the very first year of the war in Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already voiced his readiness to meet with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, after initial meetings between intelligence officers, then defense and foreign ministers of the two countries.
Nevertheless, Damascus remains cautious of a heist rapprochement with Ankara as it fears that a meeting with Assad could boost Erdogan’s chances in the 2023 Turkish general elections, especially if its addresses the issue of returning some of the 3,6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.
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Good! the Kurdish PKK-YPG-SDF secessionists days are numbered. Bashar al-Asad wins again.
I love it man. The Russians are so smart. The US kurdish project is being contained and and commandeered by stabilizers. Unlike the US and friends whose goal is to cause a part of Iran (Kurdish) to join the defacto Kurdish state thereby opening the door into Iran. The US would then setup a base inside the Iranian Kurdish part, just like they did in Syria.
I was just reading something a few days ago that suggested that one of the lost tribes of Israel might have been the Kurds and their capital was in Erbil….hmmm…things get clearer!!!
When Turkey pulls all of its military out of Syria, and stops funding the terrorist cells it claims it is fighting, then maybe there is room for talk. Oh, and Turkey can stop looting Syria, and also stop Turkifying the northern border region of Syria. All of Syria’s territory must be respected. I just wish the SAA had the ability to not only kick out the Turks, but also kick out the U.S. The situation in Syria is a very grave. Not only is there no fuel anywhere, but you are lucky if you get 45 minutes of electricity a day. The Syrian currency and economy has completely collapsed under the CEASAR Act that shit for brains Trump signed into law.
Turkey must be destroyed.
Turkey is not reliable do not trust them they are just preparing for the next backstab or are trying to improve their situation for the next attack.