Turkish-Russian talks cover Syria, Gaza, and cooperation in energy sector

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Antalya to discuss a range of issues, including bilateral relations, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

This meeting was reported by a source within the Turkish Foreign Ministry, who provided additional insights into the discussions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

According to the source, the two foreign ministers reviewed the state of their countries' bilateral relations and specifically focused on areas of cooperation in the energy sector. They also addressed concerns regarding maritime safety in the Black Sea, an issue of growing importance in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, they explored efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The source also mentioned that Fidan and Lavrov expanded their discussions to cover ongoing developments in Syria, as well as the situation in the Gaza Strip.

It is noteworthy that Lavrov had already held discussions with other key figures before his meeting with Fidan. His prior engagements included talks with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Sudan, and Venezuela, as well as with the president of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a significant international event designed to foster dialogue among global leaders and diplomats. The forum, held annually in the Turkish resort city of Antalya, is organized under the patronage of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This year’s forum gathered over 20 heads of state and government, more than 50 foreign ministers, over 70 ministers, and nearly 60 senior representatives from international organizations. In total, the event saw approximately 4,000 participants, including students.

Over the course of the forum, more than 50 sessions were planned, covering a diverse array of topics. These included regional issues in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America, as well as pressing global challenges such as climate change, counterterrorism, humanitarian aid, digitization, food security, and artificial intelligence.

By Tamilla Hasanova