ANKARA: Turkish Defe­nce Minister Hulusi Akar told Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in a call on Tuesday that his country would respond to moves aimed at disrupting stability in northern Syria, his office said, as Ankara gears for talks with Moscow ahead of an expected offensive in the region.

President Tayyip Erdogan announced two weeks ago that Turkiye would soon be launching military offensives into northern Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist organisation.

Russian and Turkish foreign ministers will hold talks in Ankara on Wednesday.

Akar told Shoigu that “the necessary response will be given to actions aimed at disrupting the stability achieved in the region and the presence of terrorists is not acceptable”, the Turkish def­ence ministry said in a statement. It said Akar also “remi­nded Shoigu that previous agreements on this issue need to be adhered to”.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2022