Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for Syrian President Bashar Assad to return to direct negotiations with opposition forces in his war-torn country. Speaking at a news conference at an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi Arabia, Cavusoglu also called for an immediate “nationwide” ceasefire and the withdrawal of all foreign militias. “The regime must return to the negotiating table for direct talks with the opposition for a genuine political transition in Syria. We should send out a strong message that the foreign militias should leave Syria right away,” said cavusoglu
The statement by the Turkish Foreign Minister came after Russia, Iran and Turkey said earlier this week that they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal, after the three countries held talks in Moscow, where they adopted a declaration which set out the principles any agreement should adhere to.