Syria Ready to Mediate between Armenia and Turkey: Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on March 22 expressed his country's willingness to "play a role in building common ground for relations between Armenia and Turkey," in light of Damascus' good relationship with both Ankara and Yerevan, according to Peoples Daily Online.

Al-Assad made the remarks in a joint press conference with visiting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who began a three-day official visit to Damascus on Monday.

The two leaders held talks on bilateral relations as well as the latest developments of conditions in the Middle East and Caucasus regions.

President Assad described the visit of his Armenian counterpart as a "milestone following my visit to Yerevan," in pushing forward Syrian-Armenian relations.

Sargsyan, in turn, said that Armenia highly appreciates its relations with Syria, describing the relations as "cordial and warm."

The Syrian president reiterated that it is necessary to overcome all differences between Armenia and Turkey, resorting to dialogue as to continue the process of confidence building, hailing Sargsyan's decision to develop relations with Turkey as "courageous, [and] based on a far-sighted vision."

Al-Assad also affirmed Syria's willingness to help build a "common ground" to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations in the interest of the region's security and stability.

Referring to Armenia's relations with Turkey, Sargsyan told reporters that "the solution to conflicts and crisis could be through peace talks and dialogues," noting that Armenia is working seriously for peace in the South Caucasus region.