Syrian President Bashar Assad has given a positive response to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus, reported the Turkish news agency ANKA.
Erdogan, on his way back from the NATO summit in Washington, told Turkish journalists that a proposal had been sent to Bashar Assad for the normalization of relations and a response was expected, reports BTA.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry has sent a response to Erdogan's proposal, with which ”Bashar Assad has given the green light to the process of normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus”.
However, the statement stressed that the normalization of relations depends on restoring the pre-2011 status quo as a basis for trust, security and stability.
“The withdrawal of the illegally deployed forces on Syrian territory /meaning the Turkish army-BA/ and the fight against terrorist groups that threaten the security of both countries, must be based on clear foundations to achieve the desired results“ , the message states.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry's statement expressed gratitude and appreciation to the brotherly and friendly countries that have made efforts to improve relations between Syria and Turkey. And that they support their efforts and initiatives in this regard.
Iraq said yesterday that it plans to host talks between Turkey and Syria to help normalize relations between the two neighbors, which have been estranged for more than a decade.
ANKA agency recalls Erdogan's proposal to Bashar Assad to organize a meeting at the level of presidents.
„I suggested to Mr. Assad “either come to my country or let us organize this meeting in a third country”. I assigned the task to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs. I hope that we will start a new process of reconciliation. Achieving peace with Syria is in Turkey's interest, we want it because it is in Turkey's interest," Erdogan said.