Turkish Foreign Minister: Ankara to create committee to develop roadmap for normalization of ties with Syria

WORLD, May 25 (YPA) – Turkey will soon create a committee and start developing a roadmap for the normalization of ties with Damascus, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

“We have decided to develop a roadmap. In the near future, a committee will be created in the department of the deputy foreign minister together with other departments and work will begin on the development of this roadmap,” Cavusoglu said in statements to Hurriyet newspaper on Wednesday.

Cavusoglu added that “this committee will meet within days to start its work.”

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad had earlier stressed that Turkey and Syria have the opportunity to work together to achieve the aspirations of the peoples of the two countries.

“Syria and Turkey share a long border, common goals and interests, and we believe that despite all the negatives of the past years, the two countries have an opportunity to work together,” Mekdad said.

The Syrian minister stressed that Damascus is open to dialogue with Ankara, as it is the best way to reach the desired goals, as long as this  based on mutual respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the state, and non-interference in its internal affairs.

E.M