Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism for "constructive steps" in the near future to advance normalization efforts with Syria.
"From the beginning of the normalization process, we've emphasized our commitment to Syria's territorial integrity and the establishment of a stable, fair, and comprehensive peace in our region," Erdogan stated. "Beyond protecting our borders, this stance reflects our approach to combating terrorist organizations. Our region has turned into a ring of fire, which is unfortunately tightening day by day. We hope the Syrian administration will recognize the benefits of sincere and realistic normalization with Turkey and respond with appropriate actions. I hope that soon we will witness constructive steps that will allow Turkey and Syria to normalize relations," he told reporters on his return from the BRICS summit in Kazan.
Erdogan mentioned that in Kazan, he sought the assistance of Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to engage in Ankara's call for normalization. "Russia’s influence on the Syrian administration is well-known. We discussed these matters with Mr. Putin, our position, and our expectations. We called on Putin to take steps to encourage Bashar al-Assad to respond to our appeal," the Turkish leader added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS