Syrian President Excludes Negotiations with Erdogan while Turkish Troops are on Syrian Soil

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan as long as Turkish troops remain on Syrian territory. He made this statement in an interview with Sky News Arabia.

“Starting negotiations with Erdogan in the current situation would mean recognizing Turkey’s occupation of northern Syria,” Assad stated.

Assad accused Turkey of supporting terrorist groups in the conflict that began in Syria in 2011. He said, “Ankara bears responsibility for the actions of bandits against peaceful civilians.”

“Countries that have attempted to create anarchy in Syria are also responsible for drug trafficking,” the Syrian president added.