Syria’s al-Assad Says Turkey Rapprochement Efforts Unsuccessful
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Loading... - Linda Claasen
- 26 Aug 2024
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stated that recent efforts to reconcile with Turkey have not yielded any significant results, despite the involvement of mediators like Russia, Iran, and Iraq. Speaking to the Syrian parliament on Sunday, al-Assad expressed disappointment with the progress, highlighting that the initiatives had not produced any "results worth mentioning."
Turkey and Syria severed ties in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, during which Ankara supported rebels opposing al-Assad's regime. Since then, the Syrian government has been accused by international organizations of committing war crimes, leading millions of Syrian civilians to flee the country.
Al-Assad emphasized the need for "openness" in restoring relations with Turkey, suggesting that the underlying causes of the diplomatic rift must first be addressed. However, he clarified that while he desires the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria, this is not a precondition for dialogue. "It's not correct what was announced by some Turkish officials recently, that Syria said if there is no withdrawal, it will not meet with the Turks," he said, dismissing such claims as "far from reality."
In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his willingness to invite al-Assad for talks to restore relations, although no meeting has taken place yet. While Russia has been actively trying to mediate a meeting between the two leaders, and Iraq has expressed interest in facilitating such an encounter, no tangible progress has been made. Reports of an impending meeting in August were denied by a Turkish diplomat.
Turkey has been a key supporter of the Syrian opposition throughout the civil war, providing a base for both military and political opposition figures. The Turkish government has also maintained a military presence in northern Syria, primarily due to concerns over the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliates, which Ankara views as a major security threat.
In July, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated the country's commitment to the Syrian opposition, despite Turkey's broader "normalisation" foreign policy. He stressed that Turkey would not abandon the Syrian opposition, acknowledging their sacrifices in protecting Turkey's security. Fidan also highlighted the ongoing challenge within Turkey regarding the presence of 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees, an issue that frequently arises in Turkish political debates. Despite anti-Syrian sentiment in Turkey, Erdogan has continued to support the principle of providing refuge to Syrians, though some of his political opponents have vowed to send them back to Syria.
