Turkey expects Russia to take different approaches in Syria, Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan said Friday, claiming that Syrian troops pose a threat to Ankara.
"In Syria, the regime [of President Bashar al-Assad] poses a threat to the southern parts of our country. I expect Russia, as a friendly country, to take a different approach as a show of solidarity to us," the Turkish president told reporters.
According to Erdogan, he has "serious expectations from the talks with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin on Syria."
In addition, the Turkish president added that Ankara "seeks to bring bilateral relations with Russia to a qualitatively new level." "Our goal is to bring the trade turnover up to $100 billion," he said.
A day earlier, Erdogan said he expected to discuss Syria with Putin and come to some important decision. The talks between the two presidents are expected to take place in Sochi on September 29.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS