ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said his government maintained “low-level” contact through its spy agency with the Syrian regime despite being one of its most fervent critics.

Ankara fell out with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad following the 2011 crackdown on popular dissent, with Erdogan denouncing him as “killer Assad”.

The Turkish leader has ruled out any direct talks with Assad and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in December Ankara was only in contact with Damascus through third parties, namely Russia and Iran.

Erdogan’s comments Sunday are the first time he has confirmed direct low-level talks with Damascus.

“Foreign policy is being conducted with Syria at low-level,” Erdogan told the state-run TRT television in an interview, adding that spy agencies could maintain links even if their leaders did not.

“Even if it’s your enemy, you will not entirely break ties in case you might need them,” he said.

Turkey, home to nearly four million Syrian refugees, is backing rebels seeking Assad’s ouster.

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