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28 Mar, 10:57

Collaboration with Russia on Syria crucial for Turkey — Erdogan

The Turkish president also deemed essential to dismantle the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces operating in northern Syria, which Ankara links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, outlawed in Turkey

ISTANBUL, March 28. /TASS/. Ankara places significant value on cooperation with Moscow on Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone conversation that also addressed ensuring peace and stability in the country, the Erdogan administration said in a statement.

"President Erdogan stated that Turkey values highly its cooperation with Russia on Syria, stating that it is essential for Turkey and Russia to collaborate to achieve lasting peace and stability based on Syria’s territorial integrity, and that Turkey and Russia can jointly work to eliminate efforts fueling ethnic and sectarian discrimination aimed at destroying Syria’s unity, and for the complete removal of sanctions against Syria," the statement read.

Erdogan also said that dismantling the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces operating in northern Syria, which Ankara links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, outlawed in Turkey, was essential. He emphasized that it is crucial for Syria's stability that it "no longer be a safe haven for terrorist organizations." "Syria's resources should be controlled by the Syrian administration," the Turkish leader said.