Withdrawal of Turkish forces is Damascus’ terms of normalization
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Member of the Syrian parliament, Mayada al-Ali, said on Saturday that Damascus would accept restoring relations with Ankara only on its terms, the most important of which was the full withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Syrian territories.
Lately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government’s statements about normalizing relations with the Syrian government have increased.
Observers saw that Erdogan’s attempts at rapprochement with Damascus are only a step toward getting as many votes as possible in the upcoming elections.
Al-Ali added that the Turkish U-turn can be considered a focal point in the politics of a country [Turkey] which is trying to normalize with the neighboring Arab countries after years of cutting off political relations.
“Erdogan’s attempts to approach Syria aims at obtaining gains at home,” al-Ali noted, adding that “What the Turkish opposition promises to achieve regarding Syrian refugees and relations with Syria, Erdogan is already trying to accomplish ahead of the presidential election.”
She pointed out that Erdogan’s strategy is to go back and forth between Russia and the US. “His attempt [Erdogan] to regain relations with Syria and stop supporting terrorist groups is only to consolidate his position in both the Russian and American alliances.”
Erdogan is trying to figure out Damascus’ position by releasing successive statements about restoring relations, according to the Syrian MP.
Mayada al-Ali indicated that the Syrian government “will not accept to restore relations with Turkey unless it fulfills Syria’s terms, the most important of which is the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from all Syrian territories, to stop supporting terrorists and depriving its people of water resources.”