Iran Press/ Middle East: Russian, Turkish and Syrian defense chiefs and top intelligence officers held talks in Moscow last week in the highest level of official contact between the archrivals in more than a decade.
“Turkey, Russia and Syria have launched a process in Moscow,” the Turkish president said, speaking in the capital Ankara on Thursday, adding that the foreign ministers of the three countries are expected to gather in a trilateral format soon.
“After that we may meet as the Russian, Turkish, and Syrian leaders, depending on the developments. Our aim is to establish peace and stability in the region,” Erdogan added.
Mensur Akgun, a professor of international relations, said Ankara’s recent change of approach towards al-Assad stems from major shifts in dynamics in the region compared with 11 years ago when the ties between the two countries were officially cut at the height of the Arab Spring.
He also believes that Russia played a key role in starting the recent dialogue between the two arch-rivals.
“As a result of Turkey’s developing special relationship with Russia, Moscow has pursued Ankara’s interests more in its relations with Syria, pressuring the al-Assad government in this direction,” Akgun told Al Jazeera.
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