“Ending the occupation of Syrian territories and stopping support for illegal armed groups is a natural prelude to returning Syrian-Turkish relations to the way they were before 2011,” the foreign minister told Russia’s RT news network.

He expressed readiness to build good and normal relations with the Turkish people, but as long as it is not at the expense of Syrian territory and blood, and demanded that Ankara stop cutting off water and bombing border areas in northern Syria.

“These are not conditions but natural issues in political work, and the Turkish government must stop these actions to restore relations to what they were before,” the foreign minister stressed.

“How can I reach an understanding with someone who occupies my land and shows no interest or importance in solving this problem?” he asked.

Al-Mekdad stated that the Turkish occupation could last but will ultimately suffer the same fate as the US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

He claimed that the Turkish calculations to overthrow the Syrian government failed, and it realized in the end that Syria fought, resisted and did not give a single step.

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