​​​​​​​Damascus Government: No return to normal relations with Turkey without removing occupation

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed, during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian, that his government will not continue dialogue with Turkey unless its goal is to end the occupation and stop supporting terrorist organizations, according to Reuters.

In a related context, the Foreign Minister of the Damascus government, Faisal al-Miqdad, said on Saturday that Turkey would have to end its military presence in his country to achieve a full rapprochement.

Al-Miqdad said, after his meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Damascus, "It is not possible to talk about restoring normal relations with Turkey without removing the occupation."

"The meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Turkish leadership depends on removing the causes of disagreement," Miqdad said on Saturday, without providing further details or mentioning Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by name.

Miqdad was speaking after a meeting in Damascus with Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the foreign minister of Iran, another key ally of Assad.

Amir Abdollahian, who also met Assad on Friday, said Iran was "happy with the ongoing dialogue between Syria and Turkey".

Al-Assad stressed on Friday that the results should be based on the principle of ending the occupation and supporting terrorism.

T/ Satt.

ANHA