Syria Settlement Needs Assad: Turkish Official

A top Turkish official said on Friday his country can no longer insist on any settlement for Syria's long-running war without Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syria has been hit by deadly militancy it blames on some Western countries and their regional allies since March 2011.

Turkey has long opposed Assad, and supported terrorists fighting his forces.

Speaking in a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey has to be "realistic" and "facts on the ground have changed dramatically" in Syria.

"So Turkey can no longer insist on, you know, a settlement without Assad," he said, AP reported.

Simsek also said that Turkey has "high hopes" for Syrian peace talks brokered by Turkey, Russia and Iran and planned to be held next week in Astana, Kazakhstan.
 [tasnimnews.com]
20/1/17