国际英语资讯:Syria issue to dominate meeting between Erdogan, Putin

ISTANBUL, Nov. 13 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that he would discuss Syrian crisis and issues on bilateral ties with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his one-day official visit to Russia's Sochi.

Special emphasis will be given to the latest developments in the Syrian cities of Idlib and Afrin, the Turkish president told reporters in Istanbul before his departure for Sochi.

He said that Syrian refugees who migrated from northern Syrian province of Aleppo are in a difficult situation in Idlib, while the presence of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, which Ankara regards as a terror group, in Afrin is posing a threat to Turkey.

"We are looking to take joint steps with Russia on these issues," said Erdogan.

Turkey sent troops into Idlib province last month to monitor truce there under a deal reached with Russia and Iran.

Erdogan said another topic in his meeting with Putin will be the Syrian congress for national dialogue, which was originally slated for Nov. 18 in Sochi but was put off due to Ankara's opposition over the invitation of Syrian Kurdish groups.

In response to a question on Russia and the United States rejecting a military solution to the conflict in Syria, Erdogan said, "those who do not believe in a military solution in Syria should pull their troops out."

"There is no military solution to the conflict in Syria," read a joint statement issued after Putin met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam.

The current trip will also take Erdogan to Kuwait and Qatar.