Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his Syrian counterpart Ali Mahmoud Abbas gathered in a meeting hosted by Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday, in a landmark move marking the first official engagement between Damascus and Ankara after more than a decade.
Describing the unannounced meeting as “constructive,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said the officials discussed “the Syrian crisis, refugee problem and joint efforts to combat all terrorist organizations in Syria” during the talks. The three countries “agreed to continue” trilateral meetings to “ensure and maintain stability in Syria and in the region,” the ministry added.
