Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a working visit to Russia tomorrow, Wednesday, at the invitation of his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Turkish Presidency's Communication Department said in a statement today, Tuesday, that Erdogan and Putin will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries during the meeting.
The two leaders are expected to discuss current regional developments and international issues, especially developments in Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, according to the statement.
And last Thursday, Erdogan said that he would meet Putin on September 29, to discuss bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Syrian province of Idlib.
He said in a press statement, "My meeting with Putin will be bilateral without the presence of a third person, and it will not be limited to the situation in Idlib, but we will discuss the general situation in Syria, the steps we will take in this country, and bilateral relations as well."
Erdogan pointed out that Turkey and Russia are pivotal countries in the region, noting that Putin is a statesman, and he showed this in resolving the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict.
Turkish letter
In a related context, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, commenting on the raids targeting Idlib Governorate (northwestern Syria), "We are committed to the foundations of the agreement concluded with Russia, and we are waiting for the opposite party to assume its responsibilities related to the agreement."
This came in statements in which Akar answered journalists' questions after the Turkish government meeting on Monday.
The Turkish minister stated that the Russians say that they are targeting terrorist groups in Idlib, but that the victims of these attacks do not include terrorists.
The Turkish Defense Minister reminded Russia of the need to abide by the ceasefire agreement regarding the de-escalation zone in Idlib (Anatolia)
During the past few days, Russia and its ally, the Syrian regime, launched repeated attacks on areas subject to the de-escalation agreement in northwest Syria, concluded under the auspices of Turkey and Russia.
Akar explained that the aforementioned attacks are a reason for the increase in migration and the escalation of extremism among the residents of the region, stressing the importance of continuing the ceasefire and ensuring stability.
In response to a question about coordination between Turkey and Russia in the region, Akar confirmed the existence of an accurate mechanism there, and channels of communication between the two countries.
On issues east of the Euphrates, the Turkish minister said that his country has parallel memoranda of understanding with Russia and the United States.
"We agreed that the terrorists would withdraw, but unfortunately their presence is still there," he added.
Akar indicated that Turkey will not allow any danger or threat to it in the south of the country, stressing respect for the security of the borders of neighboring countries and their sovereign rights, especially Syria and Iraq.