Syrian, Turkish, Russian defense ministers hold talks, first time since 2011

The defense ministers of Syria, Turkey and Russia held surprise talks in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss the crisis in the Arab country, the first high-level contact between the three sides since 2011.

According to Press TV, in a statement on Wednesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Minister Hulusi Akar and his Russian and Syrian counterparts Sergei Shoigu and Ali Mahmud Abbas got together for previously-unannounced talks in Moscow.

Intelligence chiefs of the trio also attended the surprise meeting, during which “the Syrian crisis, the refugee problem and efforts for a joint struggle against terror organizations present on Syrian territory” were discussed, it said. The meeting took place in a “positive atmosphere.”

According to the Turkish Ministry, they would continue to hold such tripartite meetings and discussions to ensure and maintain stability in Syria and the region.

Russia, Syria's close ally, has long been pressing for reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara, which have been standing on opposite sides in the years-long crisis.

Turkey supported foreign-backed militants trying to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Damascus repeatedly condemned Ankara's hold over stretches of territory in northern Syria, which were seized in Turkish military incursions since 2016 in a declared attempt to drive US-backed Kurdish militant groups away from the frontier.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, in a brief statement, confirmed that "ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria have been discussed" by the ministers.

The meeting was held days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said presidents of Turkey, Syria and Russia could meet for talks after a meeting of intelligence, defense, and foreign officials.

ME