Russia said 'talks are near' but... Syria vetoes normalization!
A new statement has come from the Syrian side regarding the normalization talks between Ankara and Damascus. Syrian sources stated that a meeting at the ministerial level is not imminent.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement that they plan to organize a meeting soon to discuss the normalization of relations between Ankara and Damascus has been met with a response from Syrian sources.
Suggesting that Turkey is ready to discuss withdrawing its troops from Syria, Lavrov had said the following:
"Last year, we made great efforts to organize meetings with the participation of defense and foreign ministries as well as special agencies. We used these meetings to discuss the conditions that could lead to the normalization of relations between Syria and Turkey. Representatives from Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Iran participated in these meetings. Specific parameters have not yet been agreed upon. We are talking about the return of refugees and the necessary measures to suppress the terrorist threat that would make the presence of Turkish troops unnecessary. All of this is being worked on."
MEETING IS NOT IMMINENT
According to Sözcü, citing the Lebanese newspaper Al Mayadeen, Syrian sources stated that a meeting at the ministerial level between Turkey and Syria is not imminent. The sources said that the normalization talks have stalled because Turkey has not provided a guarantee regarding the withdrawal of troops from Syria.
Syrian sources noted that President Bashar al-Assad has not backed down from his condition for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria.