Russia’s special presidential envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, said that hopefully Turkey and Syria could work toward a gradual rapprochement, reported Russian News Agency.
Speaking after the 19th meeting of the Astana format talks on Syria, Lavrentyev issued a press statement and answered questions on the recent attacks by Turkey on North and East Syria.
“We have been in quite close contact with Turkey, primarily through Defense Ministry channels, so that we can prevent tensions from escalating further in general,” said Lavrentyev.
“I think the signs and signals out there that Turkey and Syria are ready to somewhat meet each other halfway are steps in the right direction that could help avoid any deadly incidents involving civilians,” the Russian Diplomat added.
Lavrentyev said yesterday that it is necessary to convince Turkey to refrain from using excessive force on Syrian territory.
Following footage of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi shaking hands, Turkish journalists asked whether Erdoğan will come together with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, wrote Abdülkadir Selvi in his column to Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.
Abdülkadir Selvi confirmed that Erdoğan is likely to have a meeting with Assad before the upcoming presidential elections in 2023.
On the same day, Joe Buccino, the spokesperson of CENTCOM, told Kurdish daily Rudaw that they are against all kinds of military operations that will destabilise Syria, adding that such a step would jeopardize the joint fight against ISIS and would cause the re-emergence of the militant Islamist group.
Before the Astana Talks, Moscow called on Turkey to show restraint in light of the strikes on Syrian territory, saying that Turkey had not notified Russia in advance about the air operation in Syria and Iraq.
Nevertheless, signalling a cross-border ground offensive into north Iraq and northeast Syria, Erdoğan said nobody can oppose Turkey’s incursion into Syria.
