– With this invitation, we want to restore the relationship between Turkey and Syria to the same level as before. Our invitation can be extended at any time, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a reading from the presidency.
Turkey cut ties with Syria in 2011 following the Syrian civil war broke out. The rebels who wanted to remove Bashar al-Assad were supported by Turkey.
– We have now reached a point where if Bashar al-Assad takes a step towards improving relations with Turkey, we will also show the same approach to him, says Erdogan.
To some journalists, he also says that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani can help make contact between the countries easier.
While Erdogan opens the door, it is still not known how Assad reacts to the statement. Earlier, Syrian officials have said that ties between the two countries can only be normalized following Turkey agrees to withdraw thousands of troops from rebel-held parts of northwest Syria.
According to UN figures, Turkey houses close to 3.2 million Syrian refugees. Their fate is also a hot topic in Turkish politics. Erdogan’s opponents have promised, among other things, that they will send the refugees back to Syria.
Turkish authorities have arrested over 470 people this week following anti-Syrian riots in several cities sparked by allegations that a Syrian man harassed a Syrian minor in the city of Kayseri.
#Erdogan #plans #invite #Syrias #Assad
2024-07-09 02:10:16
