DAMASCUS – Defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Türkiye and Syria met in Moscow on Wednesday, in the first publicly announced meeting between officials of both countries since the 11-year war in Syria started, the Syrian defense ministry has said.
In a statement released after midnight Wednesday, the Syrian defense ministry said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Head of Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Hakan Fidan met with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Ali Mamlouk, Syrian intelligence chief, in Moscow.
The Russia-mediated meeting was also attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, read the statement.
The statement described the meeting as "positive," saying it touched upon efforts to fight terrorism, the situation in Syria and the issue of refugees.
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It said that the three ministers underscored the need to continue the joint dialogue to stabilize the situation in Syria and the region.