Erdogan, Assad to hold historic meeting in Moscow
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Rapprochement efforts last year faltered over Syria's demand for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, which Ankara resisted due to "security concerns".
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People with umbrellas walk through Red Square under rain in Moscow, Russia, July 22, 2024 (AP)
The first official meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is set to take place in Moscow, the Daily Sabah reported citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The meeting, which is expected to occur as early as August, will be mediated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani may also be invited, though it is anticipated that Iran will not participate in the talks.
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Following the outbreak of the war on Syria in 2011, relations between the two countries deteriorated due to Turkey's military presence in Syria and the ongoing conflict with the PKK.
Rapprochement efforts last year faltered over Syria's demand for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, which Ankara resisted due to security concerns.
Recent developments, including Damascus' return to the international stage and Syia's readmission to the Arab League, alongside shifting dynamics such as the upcoming US elections and increasing domestic discontent in Turkey regarding Syrian refugees, have paved the way for renewed dialogue.
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A source informed the Daily Sabah that the issue of Turkish troop withdrawal, once a major stumbling block, will be addressed in future discussions rather than being a precondition for the meeting.
Moreover, trade relations will be a key focus of the initial talks, with trade already commencing through the Abu Zindan crossing.
Assad ready to meet Erdogan
On July 15, al-Assad said he was open to meeting his Turkish counterpart Erdogan if such a meeting would serve the interests of the Syrian state.
In discussing the restoration of relations with Turkey, al-Assad stated, "If meeting President Erdogan leads to results, or if a rapprochement achieves the country's interests, I will do it."
He stressed that the issue is not the meeting itself but its content, noting that while the meeting might be important as a means to an end, "we have not heard what the goal is or what the solution to the problem is."
Al-Assad questioned why relations deviated from their natural course 13 years ago and noted that no Turkish official had openly addressed this point. He stressed that the meeting was merely a means to an end, requiring clear rules and references, and warned that the failure of this means at some stage might lead to worse outcomes and higher costs.
"We are positive about any initiative to improve the relationship, which is natural. No one thinks of creating problems with their neighbors, but this does not mean we proceed without rules," al-Assad added.
