The Syrian Regime’s Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, has made it clear that the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian soil remains a non-negotiable condition for the normalization of relations between Damascus and Ankara.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Tuesday, Mekdad declared, “The fundamental condition for any Syrian-Turkish dialogue is Ankara’s announcement of its readiness to withdraw from Syrian territory.”
Mekdad underscored the necessity for Turkey to make concrete commitments, stating, “We want to see precise Turkish pledges that reflect Turkey’s commitment to withdraw from Syria and halt its support for opposition factions.”
On the subject of Syrian-Iranian relations, Mekdad noted that the discussions reaffirmed “the importance of continuing the strategic relations between the two sides and the continuous cooperation to strengthen them.”
The visit of Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to Damascus marks the second leg of his inaugural foreign tour, which began on Monday in Lebanon.
Mekdad’s remarks coincide with a report from the newspaper Al-Watan, which highlighted the urgency for Turkey to engage with the Syrian regime to counter the initiatives of the “Autonomous Administration” in northeastern Syria, particularly their plans to organize municipal elections.
Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler recently reiterated Turkey’s position, asserting that Turkish forces will withdraw from Syria only when the security of its southern border is assured and “terrorist threats” from the region are eliminated.
