Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that normalizing relations with Syria will proceed according to the roadmap that was proposed during the quartet meeting of the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia, Syria and Iran in Moscow on Wednesday.
Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Damascus had some demands, such as the Turkish withdrawal from northern Syria, but added: “We are facing the threat of terrorist organizations along our borders, and the regime in Syria cannot now carry out the task of securing the area.”
“If the Turkish forces withdraw, the vacuum will be filled by the [Kurdish] People’s Protection Units, [the largest component of] the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”
He stressed: “We confirm that we have no ambitions in the Syrian lands, but there is a serious threat coming to us from there.”
The minister added that an agreement was reached over a roadmap and a working group during the quadripartite meeting in Moscow.
He also stressed that the return of Syrian refugees must be completed in a safe and decent way, “because their safety is very important.”
The four foreign ministers agreed during their meeting to prepare a roadmap, and assigned their deputies to develop it in coordination with the deputy defense ministers and intelligence agencies of the four countries. Cavusoglu said the preparation meetings will begin soon.
The final statement issued in Moscow stated that the four ministers affirmed their countries’ commitment to the sovereignty of Syria and cooperation in combating all terrorist organizations, as well as ensuring the safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees, and advancing the political process.
