Lavrov: Moscow encourages negotiations between Ankara and Damascus

ARK News.. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow intends to make strenuous efforts to support the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and Syria, these negotiations were suspended due to differences in positions regarding the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria.

In an interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyat, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that "the differences in positions between Damascus and Ankara led to the suspension of the negotiation process, as the Syrian regime insists on the need to clarify the issue of the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory, while Turkey affirms in principle its commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, with its readiness to discuss the issue of withdrawing forces at a later time."

According to Lavrov, "There are signals from Damascus and Ankara of serious interest in resuming negotiations, and Moscow is making continuous efforts to end the conflict, and encourages a rapid resumption of the negotiation process between the two sides."

The Russian Foreign Minister considered that normalizing relations between the Syrian regime and Turkey is of great importance for sustainable stability in Syria and enhancing security in the Middle East region.

It is worth noting that this topic was discussed during the meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

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