Pushing Towards Reconciliation... Moscow Seeks to Resume Turkish-Syrian Negotiations
Moscow appears to be seeking a diplomatic breakthrough in Turkish-Syrian relations, taking advantage of both parties' need for rapprochement despite their deep differences
November 2, 2024, 5:04 pm

Pushing Towards Reconciliation... Moscow Seeks to Resume Turkish-Syrian Negotiations

لافروف \ تعبيرية \ متداول

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that there is a serious desire from both Turkey and Syria to resume dialogue, explaining that Moscow will actively contribute to relaunching negotiations between the two countries.

In an interview with Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet," Lavrov stated: "The Syrian government insists on the necessity of making a decision regarding the withdrawal of Turkish military units from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic."

He added: "In Turkey, in principle, they confirm their commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but they suggest discussing the issue of withdrawing their forces at a later time. Given indicators of serious interest in resuming dialogue from both capitals, we will actively work to restart the negotiation process as soon as possible."

The Russian minister declared that normalizing relations between Ankara and the Syrian regime is of paramount importance for achieving stability in Syria and strengthening security in the Middle East, indicating that Moscow is making intensive efforts to overcome differences between the two sides.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed last October his aspiration for "constructive steps" to normalize relations with Syria, noting that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan to help ensure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's response to Ankara's call for normalizing relations.

The armed conflict in Syria has continued since 2011, while Syrian settlement talks in the Astana format were launched at the initiative of Russia, Turkey, and Iran in 2017, with 21 meetings held to date.

The Astana format brings together Russia, Iran, and Turkey as guarantor countries for the Syrian settlement process, alongside representatives from the Syrian regime, opposition, United Nations, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq as observers.

In June 2023, during the twentieth meeting, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry proposed ending the Syria talks in Astana, linking its decision to the process's success in achieving its goals after Ankara announced its desire to restore relations with Damascus and Syria's return to the Arab League. However, Kazakh authorities later decided to organize the twenty-first meeting in response to a collective request from the guarantor countries.

Levant-Agencies

"Shoa" Organization Condemns Algerian Authorities' Neglect of Political Prisoners and Calls for Enhanced Human Rights Two New Earthquakes in Ethiopia... Egyptian Expert: Seismic Activity Threatens Renaissance Dam

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.