Türkiye to open borders for safe return of Syrians

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on December 9 that he would open the Yayladagi border crossing with Syria to manage the safe and voluntary repatriation of millions of Syrian refugees residing there.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. (Source: Reuters)

In Syria, the opposition has taken control of the capital Damascus, forcing President Bashar Hafez al-Assad to flee to Russia.

After a cabinet meeting in Ankara, President Erdogan announced that he was opening the Yayladagi border gate to prevent congestion and ease traffic.

The Yayladagi border crossing, located near the northwestern edge of Syria, has been closed since 2013 due to conflict near the border.

"We will also manage the voluntary repatriation of migrants in line with the country's tradition of hospitality," Erdogan added.

Additionally, on December 9, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Türkiye will help Syrian refugees it receives return home safely.

Türkiye has previously said it does not support or have any involvement in the Syrian opposition's offensive against President Assad. However, on December 9, Ankara stressed its desire for the new Syrian government to be inclusive and for the Syrian people to decide their own future.

In a speech at the Turkish Ambassadors' Conference in Ankara, Mr. Fidan affirmed that Türkiye is ready to support the reconstruction of Syria and is coordinating with all "regional parties and partners".

According to Mr. Fidan, Ankara will stand side by side with the Syrian people in the "new phase" in Damascus, but groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) will not be allowed to benefit from this situation.

As a NATO member, Türkiye currently hosts about 3 million Syrian migrants and refugees, making it the country with the largest number of Syrians since the outbreak of the civil war.

Türkiye also controls parts of northern Syria after a series of cross-border operations targeting the Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers an offshoot of the PKK.

Shares of Turkish construction and cement companies surged on December 9, on expectations they will benefit from reconstruction in Syria.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tho-nhi-ky-se-mo-cua-bien-gioi-de-nguoi-syria-hoi-huong-an-toan-296828.html