Ankara believes that the security of Syria is inextricably linked with the security of Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced this on his social media account.
The statement was made following a meeting on security cooperation held in Ankara, which was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister, Minister of National Defense Yashar Güler, head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Ibrahim Kalin and their colleagues – the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria Hassan al-Shaibani, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasru and the head of Syrian intelligence Hussein al-Salameh.
Hakan Fidan assured that Ankara will continue to provide comprehensive security support to Syria.
“We do not consider the security of Syria separately from the security of Turkey. We will continue to provide our Syrian brothers with comprehensive support on this path,” the minister said, in particular.
According to him, during the meeting the parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in order to protect the progress achieved in Syria. “We agreed with our Syrian brothers to strengthen close coordination and cooperation in order to preserve and develop Syria’s achievements,” he said.
The diplomat emphasized that the negotiations in Ankara allowed for a thorough study of the strategic aspects of Turkish-Syrian relations.
The minister said that the meeting also discussed joint steps that could be undertaken to ensure the security of Syria while maintaining its territorial integrity, and a comprehensive assessment of specific plans in this direction was given.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that the Syrian government has the determination and desire to overcome the difficult challenges facing it. He pointed out that comprehensive contacts between Turkey and Syria have continued at all levels “since the Syrian people regained their freedom.”