ISTANBUL
It is time for all religious, ethnic, and sectarian groups in Syria to embrace one another, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday.
Fidan made the remarks at a joint press conference in the capital Ankara with Asaad Al-Shaibani, the foreign minister of the new Syrian administration, following a meeting attended by Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin, the new Syrian administration Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Anas Hattab, intelligence chief of the new Syrian administration.
Fidan said Türkiye offered to provide operational support to Syria on the ISIS (Daesh) terror group.
"As we have always said, we are also ready to provide the necessary assistance to the new administration regarding the management of Daesh/ISIS camps and prisons," he said.
Fidan said it is pleasing that the new administration in Syria is acting with an inclusive approach.
"Türkiye supports efforts for a National Dialogue Conference to reflect the will of all components in Syria," he added.
He said that during a working meeting, they discussed the security situation in Syria and necessary steps to fully establish stability in the country, as well as political, economic and humanitarian issues.
"Türkiye expressed our readiness to provide support to Syria in all areas. Within this framework, we also discussed how to make our bilateral cooperation more institutionalized."
Fidan said sanctions on Syria targeting the Assad regime are still in effect.
"Intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to lift these sanctions. As a result, the US has introduced partial exemptions to the sanctions. We understand that the European Union is also working on providing exemptions to the sanctions," he added.
Fidan also announced that Türkiye's Consulate General in Aleppo is set to open next Monday.
Call for lifting sanctions
Emphasizing the need to lift sanctions to ensure the delivery of basic public and infrastructure services in Syria, Fidan said: "If the sanctions are lifted, the country's normalization process will accelerate."
If the sanctions are lifted, conditions will also be created to enable millions of Syrians to return to their homeland and boost Syria's capacity to combat terrorist groups like ISIS, he added.
The international community could support Syria in rebuilding its state institutions and capacity building, he said.
He also highlighted Türkiye's readiness to share its expertise in these areas, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued necessary directives to all state institutions.
Time for peace
Fidan said that there is no place for terrorism in the region's future, adding: "We will never consent to the fragmentation of Syria. The region has suffered enough from wars."
"It is now time to rid ourselves of terrorism, weapons, and violence. It is time for peace, solidarity, brotherhood, development, and prosperity," he said.
Fidan stressed that Türkiye is fully capable of swiftly taking the necessary steps with its resources and capabilities.
He underlined the strong bonds of friendship between Türkiye and Syria, pointing to his country's hosting of millions of Syrians during the long civil war as evidence of this.
"In the new era beginning in Syria, our strong ties and cooperation will be further strengthened," he said.
"Türkiye's sole desire is a Syria that lives in peace, tranquility, prosperity, and security."
Fidan highlighted the need for steps to be taken in various areas, including defense, security, counter-terrorism, agriculture, health, energy, traffic, and transportation.
He noted the existence of a coordination mechanism established under Erdogan’s directive.
Türkiye will continue its cooperation with Syria, through public institutions, private organizations, and NGOs, in areas such as solidarity, aid, and trade, based on whatever the situation requires, he added.
'Operational cooperation absolutely necessary'
Fidan stated that they also discussed issues of security and counter-terrorism, including the terror groups ISIS, PKK, and YPG.
"In particular, we exchanged views on what needs to be done in the fight against Daesh/ISIS."
"Intelligence sharing and operational cooperation are absolutely necessary. The issue of the YPG is of particular interest to them, and we shared our perspectives on that matter as well," he said.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terror organization by Türkiye, the US and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including infants, women, and children. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian branch.
Fidan also said Israel's massacre in Gaza must be stopped and that Türkiye would support any steps towards this.
President Erdogan has emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the Gaza conflict from the very beginning and spurred an international response, he added.
The goal is to bring peace to the region through a two-state solution, he said, adding: "The aim is for Israelis, Arabs, and all the people of the region to live in peace and tranquility."
Fidan also decried how Israel has occupied parts of Syrian territory.
"Israel's expansionism in this form poses a threat to everyone,” he said, adding that it “makes many countries insecure."
