Turkish, Syrian, Russian Protection Chiefs Maintain Shock Talks

(ANKARA) — The Turkish, Syrian and Russian protection ministers have held beforehand unannounced talks in Moscow, the Turkish and Russian protection ministries mentioned on Wednesday. It was the primary ministerial degree assembly between rivals Turkey and Syria for the reason that begin of the Syrian battle 11 years in the past.

A Turkish protection ministry assertion mentioned the Turkish, Syrian and Russian intelligence chiefs additionally attended the talks in Moscow which, it mentioned, happened in a “constructive ambiance.”

The dialogue centered on “the Syrian disaster, the refugee downside and efforts for a joint battle towards terror organizations current on Syrian territory,” the ministry mentioned.

It added that the edges would proceed to carry trilateral conferences.

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Russia has lengthy been urgent for a reconciliation between Turkey and the Syrian authorities — Moscow’s shut ally — which have been standing on reverse sides in Syria’s civil battle.

Turkey backed rebels making an attempt to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Damascus for its half denounced Turkey’s maintain over stretches of territory in northern Syria which have been seized in Turkish navy incursions launched since 2016 to drive Kurdish militant teams away from the frontier.

Russia’s Protection Ministry confirmed that the three ministers mentioned methods to resolve the Syrian disaster, the refugee subject and to fight extremist teams.

The events famous “the constructive nature of the dialogue … and the necessity to proceed it within the pursuits of additional stabilizing the scenario” in Syria and the area as a complete, the quick assertion mentioned. It didn’t present every other particulars.

The talks in Moscow observe repeated warnings by Turkey of a brand new land incursion into Syria after a lethal bombing in Istanbul final month. Turkish authorities blamed the assault on the outlawed Kurdistan Staff’ Celebration, or PKK, and on the Syria-based Individuals’s Safety Items, or YPG. Each teams denied involvement.

Russia has opposed a brand new Turkish navy offensive.

The efforts towards a Turkish-Syrian reconciliation additionally comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who faces presidential and parliamentary elections in June — is beneath intense strain at residence to ship Syrian refugees again. Anti-refugee sentiment is rising in Turkey amid an financial disaster.

Earlier this month, Erdogan mentioned he had proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin a sequence of trilateral conferences amongst Russian, Syrian and Turkish ministers which might culminate in a summit gathering the three international locations’ leaders.

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