Assad requires withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria for talks with Erdogan

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad said he was ready to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but for this he demanded that the Turkish military withdraw from northern Syria.

Speaking to Russian media, the Syrian President’s statement came a day after a meeting between Putin and Assad, at a time when Moscow is trying to reconcile Ankara and Damascus.

Diplomats from Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iran are expected to meet in Moscow this week to prepare for a meeting between foreign ministers ahead of a possible presidential summit.

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with the Russian agency Novosti a day after his meeting with Putin that he was ready to meet with Erdogan on the condition that Turkish troops withdraw from northern Syria.

Referring to Turkey’s support for rebel groups opposed to the Damascus regime, Assad added that Ankara should also “stop all support for terrorism” and “this is the only situation in which a meeting with Erdogan can take place.”