Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says efforts to restore ties with Turkey have to date yielded no tangible outcomes.
“The initiatives didn’t produce any noteworthy outcomes regardless of the seriousness and real enthusiasm of the mediators,” Assad stated in a speech to the Syrian parliament on Sunday, referring to latest conciliation efforts by Russia, Iran and Iraq.
Turkey severed relations with Syria in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil struggle, by which Ankara supported rebels searching for to overthrow Assad.
The Syrian president and his regime have been accused by worldwide our bodies and human rights organisations of committing struggle crimes after thousands and thousands of Syrian civilians fled government-controlled areas in addition to the nation as an entire.
“The answer is openness,” Assad stated. “To revive a relationship, it’s essential to first eradicate the causes that led to its destruction.”
The Syrian president additionally made it clear that whereas he needs Turkish troops to withdraw from Syria, that’s not a situation for talks.
“It’s not appropriate what some Turkish officers just lately introduced, that Syria stated that if there isn’t any withdrawal, it won’t meet with the Turks,” al-Assad stated.
“These phrases are removed from actuality,” Assad added.
In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been a staunch supporter of the anti-Assad Syrian opposition, stated he would lengthen an invite to al-Assad “at any time” for attainable talks to revive relations.
Assad stated later that month that he was open to assembly Erdogan however that it relied on the “content material” of the assembly, noting that Turkey’s presence in Syria was a key level of battle.
Russia has been attempting to facilitate a gathering between the 2 leaders in an effort to reset relations. Iraq additionally stated in July that it would attempt to deliver the 2 leaders collectively.
A Turkish newspaper beforehand reported that Erdogan and al-Assad might meet in August, however a Turkish diplomat denied the report.
Because the civil struggle started, Turkey has been a lifeline for the Syrian opposition, offering a base for army and political figures.
The nation has additionally been militarily concerned in areas alongside its border with northern Syria as a result of Ankara considers the presence of the Kurdistan Employees’ Get together (PKK) and its associates, that are current on this area, its important safety menace, which should be addressed.
The PKK has been waging struggle towards the Turkish state since 1984 and is taken into account a “terrorist” organisation in Turkey, the US and the European Union.
Don’t abandon the Syrian opposition
In July, Turkish International Minister Hakan Fidan advised Al Jazeera that the Turkish authorities had a overseas coverage of “normalisation”, a part of Erdogan’s “imaginative and prescient for peace”.
“The area is now in a local weather of seek for peace and stability,” Fidan stated. “The spirit of our instances compels us to hunt peace and stability.”
Nonetheless, he pressured that this coverage doesn’t imply abandoning the Syrian opposition.
“We won’t change our place relating to the Syrian opposition. The Syrian opposition’s relations with the regime are primarily based on their very own free resolution, their very own free selection,” Fidan stated earlier than noting that opposition fighters had fought alongside Turkish troops to guard Turkey’s safety.
“We can not overlook this sacrifice… We can not overlook these sacrifices and allow them to down,” Fidan added.
However inside Turkey, anti-Syrian sentiment continues to rise, placing the Turkish authorities in a tough place.
Türkiye hosts 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees, the biggest quantity on this planet.
Whereas Erdogan has continued to assist the precept of giving refuge to Syrians, their future periodically comes up in Turkish political debates and a few of Erdogan’s opponents have vowed to ship them again to Syria.