Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that Turkey is ready to engage in dialogue with Syria without any preconditions.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently said that a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to restore bilateral relations was possible. Turkey had severed ties with Syria after the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011 and supported the rebels who wanted to topple Assad.
Speaking in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Fidan emphasized the importance of open discussions at all levels, including presidential, to resolve longstanding issues between the two nations.
“Our president has already announced our policy on this matter,” Fidan said. “We are ready to start any kind of dialogue at any level to solve the existing problems between us.” He said that since 2017, Turkey has engaged in talks through multiple channels, which have occasionally shown positive results, including a notable reduction in clashes between the Syrian opposition and the regime.
Addressing the conditions for normalization, Fidan noted that setting preconditions before discussions would be counterproductive. “Talks are there to solve problems in a civilized manner. People talk to solve problems,” he added, stressing Turkey’s commitment to peace and stability in the region through diplomatic influence and support from friendly nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan.
Fidan dismisses claims of mistreatment of Syrians in Turkey
Anti-Syrian violence in Turkey intensified earlier this month, following allegations of the molestation of a 7-year-old Syrian girl in central Turkey, leading to mob attacks on Syrians in multiple cities, resulting in widespread property damage and injury.
Violent counter protests erupted in Turkish-controlled northwestern Syria, with clashes between armed demonstrators and Turkish forces in Afrin leaving seven dead and over 20 injured.
In coastal Antalya province, a 17-year-old Syrian, Ahmet Handan El Naif, was killed by a mob amid the unrest. The violence has raised suspicions of political motives, with claims that it may be linked to internal strife within Turkey’s government.
Fidan denied claims of harsh treatment of Syrian refugees in Turkey in the interview.
“The safety of our Syrian brothers in Turkey is guaranteed,” he said, acknowledging that while societal issues may arise, they should not be generalized or used for incitement purposes.
Fidan said millions of Syrians, more than half the population, currently live outside the country and that Turkey has provided refuge to several million of them.