Turkey insists on occupation of Syrian territories

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his country will not accept any preconditions that lead to direct negotiations with the Damascus government, including the withdrawal of its forces from Syrian territory.

 "Contacts with Syria are possible in the future, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We will not accept any preconditions," adding: "We will not accept the condition of withdrawing from Syrian territory in order to negotiation,” he said to media yesterday, citing the existence of: “threats to his country in Syria.”

Davutoglu's speech coincided with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's call for Turkey to withdraw its forces from Syria, in a position confirming that tensions still exist between the two parties despite efforts to bridge the rift.

Shoukry's remarks came during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, following talks between them.

Davutoglu's speech came in turn, after a meeting was held in Moscow that brought together deputy foreign ministers (Syria, Turkey, Russia and Iran), and the foreign ministers' meeting was postponed to early May, as a result of the Damascus government's insistence on the Turkish occupation leaving Syria and Ankara stopping its support for mercenaries.

a.k

ANHA