Former Syrian ambassador to Ankara, Nidal Kaplan, confirmed that the Syrian president will not meet his Turkish counterpart, unless the basic Syrian conditions are agreed upon, the most important of which is Turkey’s exit from Syrian territory, according to “Russia Today”. Kabalan said in statements to “Sputnik”: “President Assad will not meet Erdogan unless the basic Syrian terms and conditions are agreed upon. The most important thing for Syria is what is happening on the ground, and a decision by the Turkish government, especially Erdogan, to withdraw from the lands it occupies in the north and the Syrian northwest, which is an uncompromising Syrian condition.” Regarding the possibility of Syria agreeing to the return of diplomatic relations with Turkey prior to the latter’s withdrawal from the Syrian lands, Kabalan said: “Diplomatic relations between Syria and Turkey cannot be restored while the Turkish army occupies the Syrian lands. This is unrealistic and unacceptable for Syria. Withdrawal is the first condition.” He added that the order of priorities must be set and agreed upon clearly and tangibly, with clear and strong guarantees from the Russian and Iranian guarantors of the Turkish commitment to implement what it undertakes to do.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon