Defense ministers from Russia, Syria, Turkey to meet in coming days

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Feb 2023 23:30
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Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar reveals that defense ministers from Russia, Syria, and Turkey will meet in forthcoming days as relations between Ankara and Damascus seek normalization.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that in order to continue the trilateral framework of dialogue on normalization between Ankara and Damascus, technical delegations from the defense ministries of Turkey, Russia, and Syria will meet in the forthcoming days.

According to Akar, as cited by the press, said "In the coming days, our technical delegations will hold meetings in continuation of those negotiations [in Moscow]. We are doing everything possible to achieve results."

Earlier this January, in a televised speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "It is possible for Iran to participate in the tripartite talks between Turkey, Syria, and Russia."

He added, "Our relations with Russia are based on mutual respect, and although we were unable to obtain the desired result regarding northern Syria, the tripartite talks could be held, and it is possible that Iran will take part in them."

During the same month, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said, "The meetings with the Turkish side must be based on prior coordination and planning between Syria and Russia in order for them to be fruitful, and in order to reach the tangible goals and results that Syria wants from these meetings."

Defense Ministers met in Moscow

The Russian, Syrian, and Turkish defense ministers held talks on December 28, 2022, in the Russian capital, Moscow, to discuss means of resolving the Syrian crisis, the former's defense ministry said.

"On December 28, trilateral talks between the defense ministers of Russia, Syria, and Turkey took place in Moscow. The meeting discussed ways to address the Syrian crisis, the issue of refugees, and joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the defense ministers highlighted how the dialogue was constructive, stressing the need for all three parties to hold further talks to bring more stability to Syria and the whole region, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Defense Minister Akar and the head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Hakan Fidan, met Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk in Moscow along with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"Ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria have been discussed," the Russian RIA Novosti news agency said, citing the Russian defense ministry.

"Syrian crisis, the refugee issue, and efforts of joint fight against all terror organizations on Syrian soil were discussed in the constructive meeting," the ministry’s statement added.

"Turkish, Russian, and Syrian defense ministers as well as intelligence chiefs in Moscow have agreed to continue tripartite meetings to ensure stability in Syria and in the region as a whole," it concluded.