Syrian President sets conditions for mending relations with Türkiye

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said on August 25 that improving relations between his country and Turkey requires mutual respect for sovereignty and a genuine commitment to addressing the roots of tensions between the two sides.

Syria and Türkiye are working to mend bilateral relations. (Source: Shutterstock)

Speaking before Syria's legislature, Assad stressed that despite high-level meetings mediated by Russia, Iran, and Iraq over the past five years, little progress has been made due to the lack of a clear framework and guiding principles, Xinhua news agency reported.

“For any normalization of relations, Ankara needs to reverse the policies that led to the current situation, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory and the end of support for terrorist groups,” he said.

Moreover, he noted, these are not mere conditions but fundamental requirements for a successful diplomatic solution.

He called for a formal agreement between Syria and Türkiye to set out principles for future negotiations and ensure that all steps are in accordance with international law and the sovereignty of both countries.

Ankara severed ties with Damascus in 2011 after the Syrian civil war broke out, in which Turkey supported rebels seeking to overthrow President Assad, who views the rebels as terrorists.

Ankara has also carried out a number of cross-border military operations against Kurdish militants it says threaten its national security, and established a “safe zone” in northern Syria where Turkish troops are stationed.

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Türkiye's military operations violate the country's security and territorial sovereignty.

Earlier in July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his willingness to mend relations with Syria, emphasizing Ankara's desire to return relations to previous levels.

A Turkish newspaper earlier reported that Erdogan and Assad could meet in August, but a Turkish diplomat denied the report.

Russia has been trying to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders in an effort to restore relations, while Iraq confirmed in July that it might try to bring the two leaders closer together.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-thong-syria-neu-dieu-kien-han-gan-quan-he-voi-tho-nhi-ky-283900.html