Syrian, Turkish, Russian defense ministers hold surprise talks in Moscow
Syrian, Turkish, Russian defense ministers hold surprise talks in Moscow,ever since after 2011.The crisis in the Arab country was the topic of surprising talks between the defence ministers of Syria, Turkey, and Russia on Wednesday in Moscow. This was the first high-level interaction between the 3 countries since 2011.
The Turkish Defense Ministry claimed in a statement on Wednesday that Minister Hulusi Akar, his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, and his Syrian counterpart Ali Mahmud Abbas met in Moscow for unannounced discussions.
Intelligence chiefs of the trio also attended the surprise meeting, during which “the Syrian crisis, the refugee problem and efforts for a joint struggle against terror organizations present on Syrian territory” were discussed, it said. The meeting took place in a “positive atmosphere.”
In order to preserve and maintain stability in Syria and the region, the Turkish ministry stated that they would continue to hold such trilateral meetings and discussions.
Russia, a strong ally of Syria, has long pushed for peace between rivals Damascus and Ankara, which have taken opposing positions in the protracted crisis.
While Damascus repeatedly denounced Ankara’s control over areas of northern Syria, which were taken in Turkish military incursions since 2016, in a declared attempt to drive US-backed Kurdish militant groups away from the frontier, Turkey supported militants working to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, in a brief statement, confirmed that “ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria have been discussed” by the ministers.
The trio said “the constructive nature of the dialog … and the need to continue it in the interests of further stabilizing the situation” in Syria and the region as a whole, the statement read.
Days prior to the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had stated that after a gathering of intelligence, defence, and foreign officials, the presidents of Turkey, Syria, and Russia might hold talks.
“Currently, we want to take a step with Syria and Russia, as a trio. For this, first, our intelligence organizations should come together, then our defense ministers and, then our foreign ministers should meet,” Erdogan said on December 15.
Following a deadly explosion in Istanbul on November 13, Ankara repeatedly warned of a new land incursion into Syria, prompting negotiations in the Russian capital. The illegal Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (PPU) located in Syria were blamed for the attack by Turkish officials (YPG).
Both parties denied being involved. The US-backed YPG is seen by the Turkish government as the Syrian affiliate of the domestically-based, outlawed PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish area in Turkey since 1984 and is still regarded as a terrorist organisation by the US, the EU, and Turkey.
In March 2012, Turkey cut ties with Syria, a year after the Arab state had been subjected to brutal, widespread bloodshed carried out by militants and terrorists with help from abroad, including those who were purportedly sponsored by Ankara.
Additionally, three significant ground operations against extremists headquartered in northern Syria have been carried out by Turkey since 2016.
Since November 20, Turkey has been conducting airstrikes in northern Syria and Iraq against what it claims are PKK hideouts.
