Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that a draft roadmap for normalizing relations between Damascus and Ankara be prepared for the next meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran.
"If you do not object to such a methodology, the best result of our communication today could be an agreement to instruct experts to prepare a draft roadmap for Syrian-Turkish normalization by the next ministerial meeting, which will then be reported to our heads of state," he said Wednesday, opening four-party talks on the Syrian peace settlement with the foreign ministers of Syria, Turkey and Iran.
He pointed out that in this document the Russian side sees several principles that all participants in the four-party format support. "I mean firstly the unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and unity of all countries participating in the meeting, the goals and principles of the UN Charter. We are all interested in the soonest restoration of good neighborly relations between Syria and Turkey on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," the minister said.
At the same time, Lavrov noted the spirit of close cooperation between the partners "in order to uncompromisingly combat all manifestations of terrorism and terrorist organizations," as well as to jointly counter separatist tendencies that are "fueled from the outside." In addition, the sides do not tolerate gross external interference in the affairs of the region, "especially with the use of military force."
"In this situation and before the Astana format, which we all value, new prospects and opportunities open up. I believe that we should take advantage of the important developments that have already been achieved as a result of contacts in this format through our colleagues from the defense ministries and special services. But we see our task not only to politically consolidate the progress achieved, but also to determine the general guidelines for further movement," said the head of the Russian foreign ministry.
On logistic ties between Damascus and Ankara
It is important to start working on restoring logistic ties between Damascus and Ankara, Lavrov said. "It seems important to start discussing the restoration of interrupted transport and logistics ties between the neighboring countries and the resumption of trade and economic cooperation without any barriers," the Russian minister said.
A four-party meeting at the level of foreign ministers on the Syrian peace settlement is taking place in Moscow on Wednesday.
Turkish-Damascus relations have deteriorated since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011, when a wave of Syrian refugees poured into Turkey. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were then severed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS