Russian presidential envoy discusses Syria-Turkey ties with Assad

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Russian Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev on Thursday visited the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, discussing recent trilateral meetings between Russia, Syria and Turkey aimed at normalising Ankara-Damascus ties, according to the Syrian presidency. 

Turkey and Syria enjoyed strong relations until a civil war erupted in Syria about a decade ago. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Assad of massacring his own people and called him a dictator. Ankara started supporting rebels who were fighting Assad’s army. Meetings between both neighbouring countries did not end but were held only at the level of security heads until their defence ministers met in Moscow late December.

Erdogan has repeatedly said in recent months that he wants to meet his Syrian counterpart who seems sceptical about any rapprochements with Ankara. 

Lavrentiev visited Assad in Damascus on Thursday, telling him that Russia, the mediator of the recent talks, seeks to bring the foreign ministers of both countries to one table, according to a statement by the Syrian presidency.  

Assad said that in order for the meetings to be “fruitful” and for three countries countries to reach tangible goals, the trilateral meetings should be “based on prior coordination and planning between Syria and Moscow.”

The Syrian president also said “occupation and support for terrorism” should be ended, as reference to Turkey’s invasion of Syrian land and support for the Syrian rebels, who are considered terrorists by the regime. 

Turkey, with the help of its Syrian proxies, has invaded several towns in northern and northwestern Syria. It has also carried out three military operations against Kurdish fighters since 2016. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier this month that the next meeting between the three countries could take place in mid-January, and Reuters on Wednesday cited an unnamed senior Turkish official as saying the foreign ministers of the three countries would meet next week.  

However, Cavusoglu told reporters in Rwanda on Thursday that no date has been set for the top meeting with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad but “we will hold this trilateral meeting as soon as possible - probably at the beginning of February,” reported Turkish broadcaster NTV .  

The US has said that it does not support the talks and Syrian Kurds have expressed their suspiciousness regarding the meetings. 

The move has been strongly condemned in Turkey-held areas in Syria, with protesters defusing any rapprochement with Assad.