Turkish, Russian diplomats to meet in March 29 for security

ANKARA

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Turkish and Russian diplomats will meet in Moscow on March 29 to discuss cooperation in the fight against terror and organized crime. 

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov is expected to lead the Russian delegation at the meeting, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on March 23.

Ankara and Moscow are aiming to increase security cooperation about possible terror suspects, Zakharova stated via her official Twitter account.

A previous meeting was held in the Turkish capital, Ankara, last November.

Ankara and Moscow want to enhance security cooperation on crossings of suspected terrorists, with the latter putting forward security concerns and Turkey urging Russia for visa exemptions for Turkish citizens. 

Despite the meeting also focusing on domestic threats posed by international terror groups, it will come amid unease in Turkey over Russia’s increasing collaboration with the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which it sees as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

Russia has recently deployed military elements in northwestern Syria in an agreement with the Syrian Kurdish YPG, which claims that the Kurdish militia will be trained by Russian soldiers as part of the fight against terrorism.