"We
say: let Russia-Turkey-Syria unite in a trio. Let Iran also join, let's
conduct our talks this way, and let there be peace in the region,"
Erdogan said on Sunday, at a youth meeting in the Turkish city of
Bilecik.
In
December, a trilateral summit of defense and intelligence chiefs of
Russia, Turkey and Syria in Moscow marked the first meeting between
Turkish and Syrian defense ministers in 11 years.
At
the start of January, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan in a
phone call gave their positive assessment to the December talks.
On
January 16, Putin and his Turkish counterpart discussed the
normalization of Turkish-Syrian relations, including in the context of
Ankara's initiative to launch consultations with the participation of
Russian, Turkish and Syrian representatives. The practical significance
of the joint work of Russia, Turkey and Iran within the framework of the
Astana process of promoting the Syrian settlement was also noted,
according to the Kremlin.