Turkish, Syrian FMs could meet soon as diplomatic thaw gains steam
The top Turkish diplomat said Saturday that he could meet with his Syrian counterpart in mid-January.
The diplomatic thaw between Ankara and Damascus has gained momentum, with the top Turkish diplomat saying he could meet with his Syrian counterpart in mid-January.
Turkish Foreign Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday that his country made a “positive response” to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov’s offer to hold a three-way meeting between the top Turkish, Syrian and Russian diplomats in the second week of January, Turkish media reported.
The meeting could be held in a third country other than Russia, Cavusoglu told Turkish reporters who are accompanying him on a trip to Brazil.
“We defend Syria’s territorial integrity,” Cavusoglu said in response to a question over news reports that Turkey could withdraw its troops from northern Syria. “However, we can’t in any way allow a vacuum to be created there to be filled in by terrorist organizations,” he added.
