Turkey Ready to Cooperate with Russia on Syria: Defense Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Turkey will do everything needed for cooperation with Russia on the Syrian crisis, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Russian and Turkish presidents on August 9, Isik told Haberturk TV on Friday.
"A decision was made at the talks that our countries create a basis for a joint work on the issues related to Syria. We will do everything necessary for this," he said.
Turkey will "go ahead with the decisive fight against the Daesh (also known as ISIL and ISIS) group as the republic suffers from its activity more than other countries, including the United States and Russia," the minister further said.
He also said "a new page has opened" in cooperation with Russia in the defense industry sphere.
"Of course, we are a NATO country and we will not call in question (our commitments). But the membership in the alliance does not mean that we do not develop bilateral relations," Isik said.
Turkey "will develop close relations with Russia in the defense area based on its interests and this will not be a step against NATO or any other country," the minister stressed.
A standoff in November last year plunged the two countries’ relations into turmoil. Back then, the Turkish military shot down a Russian fighter jet as it was conducting operations over Syria. One of the two pilots of the Russian Sukhoi Su-24M was killed by anti-Damascus militants on the ground after parachuting out of the targeted jet.
Following a failed coup in Turkey in July this year, Turkish officials, who had previously defended the downing of the Russian jet, distanced themselves from the incident, saying that the bomber aircraft had been targeted by military personnel who later took part in the putsch attempt against Ankara.
Observers speculate that the Turkish overtures to Russia are coming at a time when Ankara is finding itself increasingly at odds with Western countries in the wake of the coup.
Western countries, particularly those of the European Union (EU), say Turkey is being too heavy-handed in its crackdown on putschists.
Turkey has sacked thousands of military and government personnel in an attempt to cleanse the country from the plotters.