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During "BRICS".. Al-Jaafari Rules Out Assad-Erdogan Meeting Before Damascus' Demands Are Met
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It seems that Damascus is seeking to invest in Turkey's desire for rapprochement to gain strategic advantages, especially regarding control over northern territories
The Syrian regime's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Bashar Al-Jaafari, denied any confirmations about an anticipated meeting between the Syrian regime's president Bashar al-Assad and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS group summit in the Russian city of Kazan.
Al-Jaafari told a TASS agency correspondent on the sidelines of the "North Caucasus: New Geostrategic Opportunities" forum, saying: "No, not until all our requests are met, and until Turkey meets our demands for withdrawal from occupied territories, and until a roadmap is drawn for withdrawal from our lands and stopping support for terrorists."
These statements reflect a strong position from the Syrian regime, which sets strict conditions for any rapprochement with Turkey. However, this position raises questions about the fate of various regions in northern Syria, including those that enjoy self-governance in the northeast of the country, under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The ambassador added: "We know that Turkey is our close neighbor, and we want good relations with it, but dialogue cannot be one-sided only, and goodwill must be from both sides. Despite many attempts over several years, there is still no result so far."
This position comes at a time when both the Syrian regime and Turkey are seeking to strengthen their regional positions. However, any potential rapprochement between the two parties could have implications for various parties in the Syrian conflict, including the "Syrian Democratic Forces" which seek to maintain self-administration in areas of northeastern Syria.
On the other hand, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously expressed his readiness to meet with Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad, indicating that he is waiting for a response from Damascus. However, a Turkish diplomatic source later confirmed that Ankara had not received any official response from Damascus to this proposal.
The question remains about the extent to which the positions of both parties can be reconciled, and whether they can reach a settlement and deals between them, which will certainly not consider the interests of Syrians, including the legitimate rights of various Syrian components to manage their affairs according to a fair and inclusive system of governance.
Levant-Agencies
