Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan believes that after several more rounds of negotiations Russia and Ukraine can reach an agreement on their positions, BTA reported. In an interview with Turkish NTV, he gave details of the meeting, which took place in Istanbul on Wednesday.
"The two sides have different positions on what conditions they would cease fire under, and this is where the role of the negotiating delegations lies. We are trying to create stability without influencing their positions. Some (Ukrainians - ed.) say "Let the leaders meet, come to an understanding and tell us what to do", and others - "Let us clarify things as negotiators and then the leaders meet to know what they have to agree to": this is what the Russians say. As I said, these positions were very far from each other. Now, when they talk, I see a rapprochement. If these negotiations are systematic and continue in this way, I think that after a few more rounds we will find an opportunity for the two sides to meet in the middle", said the Turkish Foreign Minister.
According to him, one of the big differences between Russia and Ukraine is regarding the conditions under which they would cease fire.
"It is not easy for them either - both sides are killing thousands of people, the war continues. "Uniform and civilian sit on both sides of the negotiating table, and the next day they go and continue to fight. They come with this attitude to the negotiations. On the one hand, it is those who are fighting who must also achieve peace, and on the other - this complicates the process," explained Fidan, who is chairing the negotiations in Istanbul.
The Foreign Minister also commented on the tactics used in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as its consequences.
"On the international stage, this war hides the danger of a great division, which we must stop. There are many actors in it, as well as finances, and tactics change every few months. The war is also becoming an interesting laboratory of military technologies and strategies“, commented the Turkish Foreign Minister, expressing hope that this will stop.
Regarding the situation in Syria, Hakan Fidan said that the US has played a key role in the stability of the country and the suppression of Israel's influence in Damascus.
"America played a key role in the region in terms of having a Syria without Israel. We saw that the US played a constructive role in the region - from lifting sanctions to giving the new government a chance and maintaining dialogue. Erdogan spoke at least four times with Trump on this topic, and that was on the first day he was elected“, Hakan Fidan said in a special interview with the Turkish NTV.
According to him, one of the other important factors for achieving peace in Syria is reaching an agreement between regional leaders.
"Regional problems require regional solutions. If we wait for the hegemon, he will come, he will not give us what we want, but he will take what he wants and leave, leaving us with even bigger problems. We have experienced this at least a hundred times“, the Turkish Foreign Minister pointed out.
According to him, sitting at the same table with the great powers is a matter of capacity. “If you do not have capacity, you will lose in the war and you will be used in cooperation“, Fidan believes.
He stressed that the position through which Turkey declares that it will not allow the division of Syria is aimed at Israel and is also related to Turkey's national security as a neighbor of Syria.
“We are victims of everything that happens on our border - terror, migration. "That is why what we want for ourselves, we also want for our neighbors," Fidan said.
According to him, Syria needs technical assistance both in terms of defense and in terms of reconstructing state institutions.