Russia's foreign minister on Wednesday hosted his counterparts from Turkey, Syria and Iran for talks that marked the highest-level contact between Ankara and Damascus since the start of the Syrian civil war over a decade ago.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabollahian, left, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second left, Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, second right, and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu prior to talks in Moscow, Russia, on May 10, 2023.
Russia intervened militarily in Syria starting in September 2015, teaming up with Iran to help Assad's government to reclaim most of the country. Moscow has maintained a military presence in the Mideast country even as the bulk of its forces are busy fighting in Ukraine. The efforts toward a Turkish-Syrian reconciliation come as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is under intense pressure at home to send Syrian refugees back amid a steep economic downturn and increasing anti-refugee sentiment. He is seeking re-election on Sunday, when Turkiye also holds both presidential and parliamentary elections.Syrian state media quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying during Wednesday's meeting that Syria and Turkiye "share goals and common interests.
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