DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that his country remains open to initiatives regarding its relationship with Türkiye, emphasizing Syria's sovereignty over its territories and its commitment to fighting terrorist groups.

Assad made these remarks during a meeting with Alexander Lavrentiev, the special envoy of the Russian President to Syria, in Damascus.

READ MORE: Assad: Syria to insist on Türkiye withdrawal from territory

Assad highlighted the importance of respecting Syria's sovereignty and combating terrorism as the basis for any effort to improve Syrian-Turkish relations.

READ MORE: Türkiye 'neutralizes' 56 Kurdish militants in N. Iraq, Syria

Lavrentiev expressed Russia's support for initiatives involving Syria and Türkiye, noting favorable conditions for successful mediation.

Türkiye and Syria severed formal diplomatic relations in 2012 as the Syrian civil war began. Türkiye supported the rebels fighting against the Assad government. In recent years, there have been hints of improvement in relations, but no significant progress has been achieved.

READ MORE: Türkiye strikes Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, Syria

Türkiye has also launched several major military operations into Syria since 2015, aiming to neutralize the threats from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish rebel group Türkiye sees as a threat.