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The defense ministers of Turkey, Halusi Akar, and Syria, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, met on Wednesday in Moscow.
The meeting is the first between the defense ministers of the two countries since 2011 and was part of a tripartite meeting with their Russian counterpart Serghei Shoigu.
The announcement was made by the Russian defence ministry.
“Trilateral talks between the defence ministers of the Russian Federation, the Arab Republic of Russia, and the Republic of Turkey have been held in Russia. They focused on solutions to the Syrian crisis, the refugee issue, and shared efforts in the fight against extremist groups on Syrian territory,” a ministry statement quoted by TASS stated.
Turkey, Syria, Russia defence ministers hold talks in Moscow
Defence ministers of Russia, Turkey and Syria have held talks in Moscow in a clear sign of normalisation between Ankara and Damascus in the decade-long Syrian war.
Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar and the head of its National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Hakan Fidan, met Syrian defence minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk in Moscow along with Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu, the Turkish defence ministry said on Wednesday.
“Ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria have been discussed,” RIA news agency said, citing the Russian defence ministry.
“Syrian crisis, refugee issue and efforts of joint fight against all terror organisations on Syrian soil were discussed in the constructive meeting,” the ministry’s statement said on Wednesday.
“Turkish, Russian and Syrian defence ministers as well as intelligence chiefs in Moscow have agreed to continue tripartite meetings to ensure stability in Syria and in the region as a whole,” it added.