UPDATE - Russian delegation to arrive in Ankara on Saturday

UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT FIGHTING TERRORISM, DRILLING IN EASTERN MED, BILATERAL RELATIONS

By Omer Tugrul Cam and Ahmet Furkan Mercan

ANKARA (AA) - In the wake of the regime's attack on Turkish troops in Idlib, Syria, a Russian delegation is expected to arrive in Ankara on Saturday to discuss the escalating situation, Turkey's foreign minister said on Friday.

The announcement by Mevlut Cavusoglu came at a joint news conference in the capital city with his Slovakian counterpart Miroslav Lajcak.

Earlier this week, Syrian regime forces attacks killed seven Turkish soldiers and one civilian. In retaliation, the Turkish military targeted more than 50 positions and neutralized over 70 regime troops, according to Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

Cavusoglu said Turkey, which hosts over 3.6 million Syrian refugees, and Russia, will work closely to resolve the crisis.

Asked about the latest developments in the strategic city of Saraqib, east of Idlib, Cavusoglu said the situation there remained critical as attacks by the regime continue.

Owing to the ongoing attacks hundreds of thousands of civilians had been displaced, he said, adding that despite agreements in Sochi and Astana, the regime's aggression had risen. "The benefits of the deals are yet to be seen," he said.

The foreign minister said that Ankara will go all out in its efforts to ensure a permanent cease-fire and prevent a humanitarian crisis in Idlib -- the last stronghold of opposition forces in the war-torn country.

On Thursday, Russia-backed Syrian forces advanced through Idlib province in a brutal ground offensive that was preceded by weeks of intensive aerial bombardment. This has terrified the civilians who have left their homes for shelter to safe havens.

Since March 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed by the regime and millions have been displaced, besieged and denied humanitarian and medical aid.

In 2017, Turkey, Russia and Iran held meetings in Astana city of Kazakhstan and announced that Idlib and neighboring cities in the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital Damascus, and the southern cities of Daraa and Quneitra would be de-escalation zones.

But the Assad regime and Iranian-backed terrorist groups launched attacks in violation of the agreements, and thanks to Russian air support, gained control of these territories with the exception of Idlib city.

Later in September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed in Sochi to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, including a fresh truce on Jan. 12, launching frequent attacks inside the zone and killing at least 1,300 civilians since then.

- Fighting terrorism

Answering a question about a recent ruling by the Belgian Supreme Court on the YPG/PKK terror group, he said this showed their hypocrisy in fighting terrorism.

"We are tired of pointing out this hypocrisy in the fight against terrorism, but the European Union, European Parliament and some European countries never get tired of showing this hypocrisy," he said.

Last week, the Belgian Supreme Court upheld a 2010 decision not to prosecute YPG/PKK-linked suspects.

Also, a conference was held in Brussels with the attendance of YPG/PKK terrorists who are wanted by Turkey.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the YPG/PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., as well as the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

- Drilling in the Eastern Med

On Turkey's ongoing hydrocarbon exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and its pact with Libya, Cavusoglu said Turkey is willing to work with everyone except the Greek Cypriot administration.

He went on to say that Turkey has a positive approach toward resolving the issues, despite roadblocks created by the biased attitude of the EU.

Last November, Ankara and Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed two separate pacts, one on military cooperation and the other on maritime boundaries of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The maritime pact asserted Turkey's rights in the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of unilateral drilling by the Greek Cypriot administration, clarifying that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also has rights to the resources in the area. It went into effect on Dec. 8.

It further underlined that Ankara had a say in projects that involve it as it has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean and that it is prepared to cooperate with all countries in the region except the Greek Cypriot administration.

Turkey is a guarantor nation for the TRNC. In 1974, following a coup aimed at the annexation of Cyprus by Greece, Ankara had to intervene as a guarantor power. In 1983, the TRNC was founded.

The decades since have seen several attempts to resolve the Cyprus dispute, all ending in failure. The latest held in Switzerland in 2017 with the participation of the guarantor countries -- Turkey, Greece and the U.K. -- ended in a stalemate.

- Bilateral relations

Cavusoglu said Turkey and Slovakia have a strong relationship.

He said there are several agreements between the two countries particularly in the defense and energy sectors, adding both countries want to develop their relations.

* Writing by Fahri Aksut