Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday met Ahmed al-Sharaa who led anti-regime forces that toppled the Assad regime. The minister’s go to got here someday after he introduced his plans to go to the nation and weeks after the Turkish intelligence chief turned the primary high-ranking Turkish official to journey to post-Assad Damascus.
Ankara was among the many first international locations to congratulate the victory of the folks of Syria to oust the oppressive regime of Bashar Assad after years of battle within the nation that displaced tens of millions and despatched them fleeing into Türkiye.
Fidan was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz, Turkish cost d’affaires Burhan Köroğlu who was lately appointed to the reopened Embassy of Türkiye in Damascus whereas Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, who was appointed as the brand new overseas minister of Syria, accompanied al-Sharaa.
Since anti-regime forces led by al-Sharaa declared victory in opposition to Assad, international locations are sending representatives to Damascus to determine ties with the brand new administration. On Friday, Barbara Leaf, Washington’s prime diplomat for the Middle East led a U.S. delegation in talks with al-Sharaa and introduced the lifting of a bounty for al-Sharaa that the U.S. had declared beforehand for the chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Türkiye sees a possibility in rebuilding and restoration of war-torn Syria within the new administration and pledged to assist the nation. Ankara already had good ties with the Syrian opposition whose forces lately cleared two northern Syrian cities from the terrorist PKK/YPG.
‘We will always remember’
In a joint news convention later within the day, al-Sharaa stated that Syria will bear in mind Türkiye’s contribution, saying: Our ‘pleasant nation, Türkiye’ has stood by Syrians for the reason that starting of the revolution … We will always remember.”
Al-Sharaa, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, added that he mentioned the nation’s future with the visiting Turkish overseas minister.
On his half, Minister Fidan stated that the Turkish state, its folks and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will at all times stand by Syria and its folks.
He added that Syria’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable and reiterated that there was no place for the PKK/YPG terrorist group within the nation.
Fidan additionally known as on the worldwide neighborhood to carry “as soon as possible” the prevailing sanctions on Damascus to permit Syria to get again on its toes and refugees to return house.
“The sanctions imposed on the previous regime need to be lifted as soon as possible,” he stated, including that “the international community needs to mobilize to help Syria get back on its feet and for the displaced people to return.”
He additionally condemned Israel for exploiting the present scenario in Syria to grab extra Syrian territories.
‘Excellent cooperation’
Earlier Saturday, in an interview with France 24, Fidan stated that HTS had “excellent cooperation” with Ankara within the battle in opposition to Daesh and al-Qaida up to now by means of intelligence sharing. In the identical interview, Fidan described the U.S. delegation’s go to to Damascus as very vital, mentioning that previous to the U.S. officers’ go to, European international locations and international organizations had already met with the brand new administration.
“I think it is very significant. Before this visit, we’ve seen other European countries and international organizations visiting Damascus and contacting the new administration there. I think it is important,” stated Fidan in an interview with France 24 channel within the Turkish capital Ankara. Fidan additionally stated on Saturday that Ankara is working to create an setting the place Syrians can return to their nation safely. “We are trying to work hard to create an environment in Syria where the refugees in Türkiye, as well as in other countries, can feel that voluntarily, safely, they can go back. We cannot dictate them, and we are not going to force them to go back,” he added. He said that there could actually be a big improve in returns to Syria within the coming interval.
On Trump’s remarks concerning the autumn of Bashar Assad in Syria the place he described Türkiye made an unfriendly takeover in Syria, Fidan stated: “I think he was trying to compliment what had happened. But, we cannot characterize what happened in Syria as a takeover of Türkiye, on the contrary, if there is any takeover, it is a takeover of the will of the Syrian people.”
On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the Syrian folks for his or her resilience in opposition to oppression, in a letter he penned for Syrians, which was despatched to Türkiye’s southeastern neighbor with 75,000 support containers. “Together we will build the Syria of the future, filled with happiness, prosperity and peace,” Erdoğan stated within the letter. The letter, translated into Arabic, was positioned inside 75,000 support containers ready by the Culture Ministry’s General Directorate of Foundations. Reiterating Türkiye’s dedication to face in solidarity with Syrians, Erdoğan stated they resisted oppression and made historical past. “You never despaired,” Erdoğan stated in his letter, including that the Syrians at all times had religion in God and sought his assist, which finally led them to victory. The president continued by saying that the Syrian persons are behind the victory and he salutes and congratulates them. Noting that Türkiye at all times supported their battle in opposition to the Assad regime’s oppression, Erdoğan stated the nation would proceed to assist their battle for growth. “Today is a better day than yesterday and hopefully, tomorrow will be even better,” he stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com