Syria’s Assad not ready for normalization with Türkiye: FM

Syrian President Bashar Assad is not prepared to normalize ties with the Syrian opposition and, by extension, with Türkiye, the Turkish foreign minister has stated, warning that deeper instability could ensue if Damascus avoids efforts to resolve its internal problems.

"In this environment of deconflict, Türkiye wants to see the [Syrian] regime and the opposition create a political framework on which they can agree. It is very important that the regime provides a safe and stable environment for the people, including the opposition," Hakan Fidan told daily Hürriyet in an interview published on Nov. 3.

His remarks followed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's recent statements that Moscow was ready to resume its mediation service to Türkiye and Syria.

But Fidan underlined that the Syrian regime should first talk to the Syrian oppositional groups and come to an agreement with them.

"However, as we understand, Assad and his partners are not yet ready to find an agreement with the opposition and thus to a bigger normalization."

The minister recalled that Israel continues to attack Syria and terrorist organizations in this country can attempt to benefit from growing chaos. "This can lead Syria to deeper instability. No one wants this," he said.

Türkiye and Syria held direct talks at the ministerial level in 2023, but the process failed after Damascus imposed that Türkiye should first withdraw its troops from its lands.

Türkiye says its withdrawal can only be a part of a larger deal with Syria as this country cannot control its territories where the terrorists are posing a threat on the Turkish borders.

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