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Russian-Turkish Thaw: Ankara Ready to Close Its Border With Syria

© AFP 2023 / Ozan KoseTurkish soldiers stand near the Turkey-Syrian border post in Sanliurfa, on September 4, 2015
Turkish soldiers stand near the Turkey-Syrian border post in Sanliurfa, on September 4, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Turkey is already mulling the possibility of closing its border with Syria, amid the ongoing diplomatic fence-mending between Moscow and Ankara, according to the Russian newspaper Izvestia.

In this Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 file photo, smoke rises over Saif Al Dawla district, in Aleppo, Syria - Sputnik International
Russia and Turkey 'Will Resolve Syria's Problems' As Bilateral Ties Improve
The Izvestia newspaper quoted the deputy head of the Russian Lower House's Defense Committee as saying that during a recent session of the joint Russian-Turkish commission, Moscow specifically stressed the necessity of closing the Turkish-Syrian border.

Viktor Vodolatsky said that the August 11 session was a continuation of Tuesday's dialogue in St. Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"The two, among other things, discussed the peace settlement in Syria, which is why we decided to urge Ankara to close the Syrian-Turkish border in order to stop the flow of terrorists and weapons," Vodoloatsky said.

He added that the issue is of paramount importance in ensuring Russia's national security, and that Moscow pledged to provide the Turkish side with satellite images of those areas where it is shown that weapons and militants are being trafficked.

It is safe to say that Ankara will most likely give the green light to the closure of Syrian-Turkish border given the ongoing normalization of relations between Russia and Turkey, according to Izvestia, which cited relevant agreements clinched during the meeting between Putin and Erdogan.

In this context, Igor Morozov, member of the Russian Upper House's International Affairs Committee, said that with Turkey's relations with Europe and the US leaving much to be desired, Ankara will now be focusing on developing cooperation with Russia.

It gives Russia a chance to reach a compromise with Turkey on a spate of contentious issue, and under conditions that will be dictated by Moscow, Morozov was quoted by the Izvestia as saying.

"The Turkish negotiators actually have no room to maneuver, and they are poised and ready to arrive at a consensus on difficult issues. This is why they will most likely say "yes" to our proposal to close Turkey's border with Syria," he said.

Vyacheslav Matuzov, an expert on eastern affairs, for his part, remained cautiously optimistic about the matter, which he said should be resolved by President Erdogan, Izvestia said.

"Apparently, some agreements on the issue have already been clinched, but the sides have yet to announce them," he said.

Jobar, a district of Damascus controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra militants. (File) - Sputnik International
Syrian Crisis Will Bring Russia and Turkey Closer Together
In late June, Russia's Ambassador to Syria Alexander Kinshchyak suggested that if Moscow and Ankara agree on a common approach in the fight against terrorism as part of the rapprochement between the two countries, Turkey will close its border with Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry has long been stressing that militants have been arriving in the war-torn Syria through the border with Turkey, while oil and other goods, revenues from which support terrorist groups in Syria have been leaving it through the country's north and further through Turkey.

Resolving the Syrian crisis was high on the agenda of talks between Putin and Erdogan in St. Petersburg on August 9. In the run-up to the meeting, Erdogan signaled his country's readiness to take joint steps with Moscow in the fight against terrorism.

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