Syria is ready to restore relations with Turkey, provided that Ankara "stops occupying the northern Syrian regions and does not support terrorist groups on the territory of Syria," Butrus al-Marjan, head of the Syrian parliament's international committee, told Izvestiya.

"First of all, Turkey must admit that it occupies someone else's land, harboring terrorist gangs, classified as such by a UN Security Council resolution. In addition, Turkey should be ready to withdraw from Syrian lands under occupation and then yes, Syria will be ready to improve relations," the parliamentarian stressed.

Ties between the countries should be based on good-neighborly relations that take into account the common interests of both states, the politician specified.

"If Turkey is ready for what I said earlier, then Syria is ready to improve its relations with Ankara. But for now, the obstacles that I said still remain, and they are fundamental," Butrus al-Marjan added.

He neither confirmed nor denied a meeting between the heads of Syrian and Turkish intelligence, adding: "There are security contacts between the countries."