Syria’s Assad expresses openness to normalize ties with Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed on Wednesday openness to all initiatives to normalize relations with Turkey.
Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported al-Assad stressed “Syria is open to all initiatives regarding Syrian-Turkish relations as long as they are based on respect for the sovereignty of the Syrian State over all its territory and the fight against all forms of terrorism and its organizations.”
This came during a meeting with Russian President’s Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev in Damascus.
Al-Assad added they always approached all relevant initiatives in a positive and constructive manner, and that the success of any initiative depends on respect for sovereignty.
For his part, Lavrentiev emphasized that Russia supports all efforts that aim to normalize ties between Syria and Turkey.
He pointed out that currently conditions appears to be very favorable for successful mediation and emphasized that Moscow is ready to help advance the negotiations, which the primary goal is to restore relations between both countries.
On June 24, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, encouraged 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.”
Fidan also praised the state of no-war between the Syrian government forces and the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Recently, Russia and Iraq have taken the lead in efforts to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria.
On May 31, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stated Iraq is working on reconciliation between Syria and Turkey.