Türkiye, Russia Will Resume Joint Patrols In North Syria
(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Türkiye and Russia will resume joint patrols in northern Syria
in line with a recent deal between the two countries, the Turkish
defense Minister has said, expressing Ankara's intention to
continue a process started by Ankara, Moscow and Damascus for
resolving terror and migration problems, trend reports citing
daily
news .
“Necessary agreements were reached [between Türkiye and Russia].
This process will continue with the establishment of joint centers,
resumption of joint patrols and meeting of experts. Our wish is
that this process continues in a reasonable, logical and successful
manner,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters at the
parliament on Jan. 4.
Akar responded to the questions about his recent meeting with
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Syrian Defense Minister
Ali Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow. It was the first official meeting
between Turkish and Syrian senior officials since the civil war
broke in the latter in 2011.
Türkiye has always been respectful to the sovereign rights and
borders of its neighbors, Akar said, underlining that its sole
purpose is to protect its citizens and borders against the
terrorists.
“Our wish is to fight terror successfully. That's what we want
to do,” he said. Türkiye and Russia had agreed to run joint patrols
in northern Syria in line with a 2019-dated protocol. Akar's
statement informs that they will be resumed and controlled through
a joint center.
Türkiye's other objective is the return of Syrian migrants it
has been hosting in the last decade to their homeland.“Our wish is
the return of our Syrian brothers to their county in a voluntary,
safe and dignified way. On the other hand, is the U.N. Security
Council resolution 2254. We have always supported the
implementation of this in a holistic and inclusive way,” he
stated.
The resolution stipulates amending the current Syrian
constitution or writing a new one with the participation of the
opposition groups and holding free and fair polls. The U.N.-led
talks for writing the constitution in Geneva have not yielded any
result so far due to obstacles created by Damascus.
Akar also reiterated that Türkiye's engagement with Damascus
does not mean that it abandons the Syrian opposition groups.“It's
out of the question that we do something against them, something
that will complicate their lives. This should be known by everyone
and everyone should act accordingly,” he said.
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