Following a weeks-long hiatus moves to restore ties between Ankara and Damascus—after 12 years of bitter hostility—appear to be back on track.
Encouraged by Moscow, the Turkey-Syria reconciliation process was temporarily suspended last month after both countries were rocked by devastating earthquakes.
On March 27, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the next round of Moscow-hosted talks between Turkish and Syrian officials would likely be held in April.
“We’re getting ready [to host the meeting],” Bogdanov told Russia’s TASS news agency.
People walk past collapsed buildings following a devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderis, Aleppo Province, Syria, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Ghaith Alsayed/AP Photo)
He added that Russian mediation efforts were aimed at normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations, which he described as an “important strategic goal.”…