Turkey, Syria could meet at ministerial level

ANKARA - Turkey and Syria could meet at the ministerial level as part of efforts to normalise ties if suitable conditions are created, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters in an interview.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last month he would be inviting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss normalising ties, which Ankara severed after the 2011 Syrian war.

But, Assad has said such talks could only happen if the neighbours focus on core issues, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the north of Syria.

Meanwhile, Guler said that Turkey wants to improve its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), but its priority is fulfilling its responsibilities to NATO as an important ally.

"Our priority is to fulfil our responsibilities to NATO as an important ally and to strengthen the solidarity with our allies. Our focus should be that NATO is prepared, determined and strong," Guler said.

The SCO is a security, political and economic club launched in 2001 by Russia, China and Central Asian states as a counterweight to Western alliances.