Turkey’s FM encourages Syrian government-opposition integration
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, encouraged on Monday a possible integration between the Syrian government and the armed opposition that is affiliated with Turkey with the aim of fighting what he called “PKK terrorism” in reference to the Kurds in Northeast Syria.
During a live broadcast on a Turkish television, Fidan said, “We believe that a more stable Syria, integrated with its government and opposition, will be a more effective actor in the fight against PKK terrorism.”
He praised the state of no-war between the Syrian government forces and the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
“The most important thing that the Russians and our side have achieved so far regarding Syria is that the war between the regime and the opposition is not currently ongoing,” he stated.
The Turkish minister criticized the Syrian government for the lack of taking any action to bring back the Syrian refugees, saying “But we see that this opportunity [the state of no-war] was not sufficiently utilized.”