PM proposes three-way regional talks on Syria

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the Syria crisis was discussed during his unscheduled bilateral meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Baku, Azerbaijan. Speaking to reporters on his return to Ankara from Baku, where he held talks with Ahmedinejad at an Economic Cooperation Organization summit, Erdogan stated that he suggested to Iranian President three-way talks including Egypt on the Syria crisis. “We proposed a three-way system. This system could be a trio of Turkey-Egypt-Iran. A second system could by Turkey-Russia-Iran. A third system could be Turkey-Egypt-Saudi Arabia." Erdogan said, adding that they agreed to bolster communication at the level of the foreign ministries to bridge differences over the unfolding Syrian conflict. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia was uneasy with being on the same platform with Iran and that it did not want to take part in negotiations with the country. Erdogan also said it would be beneficial that the regional countries would express joint support to Arab League-UN Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi’s call to secure a ceasefire in Syria during the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. "Brahimi has taken a step. Let's at least secure a ceasefire during Eid al-Adha," Erdogan said. On the other hand, there was a disagreement between Turkey and Iran on granting observer status to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization. Iran opposed to grant observer status to TRNC during the meeting. "One of the most important aspects of this summit was that the TRNC was given an observer status in meetings, which is a significant step. We are glad that we made that happen," Erdogan said in Ankara. Erdogan added that he also held separate bilateral meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.