Peace talks do not imply canceling option for offensive: Ankara
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This comes despite a series of reconciliation efforts to end the decade-long feud between the two countries with the mediation of Moscow and Tehran.
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Turkey's foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin. (AA / Ankara)
A new ground offensive in Syria could be launched at any moment now, a foreign policy advisor to President Recept Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, said on Saturday.
This comes despite a series of reconciliation efforts to end the decade-long feud between the two countries with the mediation of Moscow and Tehran.
According to foreign policy adviser Kalin, Russia's mediation in reconciliation efforts does not imply that Turkey has discarded the option of launching a ground offensive.
"A ground operation is possible any time, depending on the level of threats we receive," the official told reporters.
"Turkey never targets the Syrian state or Syrian civilians."
Kalin added that a prospective meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries is expected to be held in Moscow in mid-February.
That meeting might however be preceded by a formal meeting between defense ministers.
All these meetings are meant to serve as preliminary meetings to prepare for a possible presidential summit, the official added.
Read more: Turkey may refrain from ground offensive in Syria: Russian diplomat
On December 15, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin a prospective meeting between the presidents of Syria, Turkey, and Russia preceded by a meeting of the chiefs of security apparatuses and defense ministers.
But Syria has so far shown signs of prudence to the peace process when two days ago, Syrian President Bashar el-Assad said that any rapprochement with Ankara must lead to the end of the Turkish occupation in Syria.
Moreover, high-ranking Syrian sources told Al Mayadeen on Thursday that "the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has electoral goals regarding the rapprochement with the Syrian leadership," and that "Damascus is not interested in offering them this card."
Besides the fact that Turkey illegally controls several parts of northern Syria and has a number of military bases set up in the area, the Turkish government also backs local militias that fight against the Syrian government.
On December 30, Ankara announced its intention to transfer control over the areas where Turkish forces are present in Syria to Damascus if political stability is achieved and indicated the possibility of joint work in the future with the Syrian authorities to combat terrorism.
Read more: After video of Erdogan on ropes, Ankara summons Swedish Ambassador
