Türkiye renewed its rejection of any preconditions for normalizing its relations with Syria, including a demand to withdraw its forces from northern Syria.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that his country would not accept any preconditions for direct talks with the Syrian government, including withdrawing its forces.
Cavusoglu said in a televised interview that his country would not accept the withdrawal of its forces while the Kurdish forces accused of "terrorism" remain in northeastern Syria.
He added that the Syrian regime demanded Türkiye to withdraw from Syrian territory. "We will not accept the condition of withdrawing from Syrian territory to negotiate," he said to the media, citing threats to his country in Syria.
Syria focuses on three main points: the need to end the Turkish presence on Syrian territory, non-interference in Syrian internal affairs, and combat terrorism in all its forms.
Türkiye confirms that its military presence in northern Syria is a guarantee to deter threats from the Kurdish militants and does not believe the Syrian regime can currently control the borders.
Cavusoglu said: "Further contacts with Syria are possible, but there is still work to be done. And we will not accept any preconditions."
He stressed the need to work with President Bashar Assad's regime to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees to their country.
Damascus repeatedly announced that withdrawing Turkish forces from northern Syria is a condition for any negotiations to normalize relations or a meeting between the two countries' presidents.
Recent developments and the resumption of talks at the level of deputy foreign ministers of Türkiye, Syria, Russia, and Iran in Moscow earlier in April showed there is an agreement to maintain the talks and deal with the issues on its agenda.
Cavusoglu stated that Ankara "received information from the Russian side about the possibility of holding a meeting of the four countries' foreign ministers in early May" and was continuing contacts with Moscow on this issue.
Negotiations with Egypt
The Syrian issue was essential to the talks between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Cavusoglu in Ankara.
Shoukry stressed, in a joint press conference, that Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be preserved, asserting that all foreign forces must withdraw from Syrian territory.
In turn, Cavusoglu reaffirmed Türkiye's longstanding position that its military presence was needed to fight "terrorism" and threats coming from Syrian territory.
"We must make sure that there is no threat to us from there," Cavusoglu said.
Bringing about permanent peace and stability in Syria is important to both Türkiye and Egypt, said Cavusoglu, adding that the two countries have agreed to work closely and exchange views.
Several Arab countries began accelerating rapprochement efforts with Damascus. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad visited Cairo and then Jeddah, in the first visits by a Syrian official at this level in more than ten years.
Türkiye is seeking to hold a meeting between its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Russian and Iranian support.
However, Assad announced that the Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory is a precondition for any meetings.
Turkish sources familiar with the matter revealed that Ankara is communicating with countries that have begun normalizing relations with Damascus.
Criticism of France
Cavusoglu criticized the French Senate for hosting the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) members, the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Ankara considers the SDF an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
He said that the PKK is on the EU's list of terrorist organizations, adding that it is hypocritical when they call them terrorists and support them.
Cavusoglu commented on Türkiye's closure of its airspace with Sulaymaniyah, stressing that the city is under the control of the PKK and it uses the city's airport for its transportation.
