Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed on Sunday that efforts to restore relations with Turkey have so far yielded no concrete results. This statement was made during a speech to the Syrian parliament, where he discussed recent mediation initiatives from Russia, Iran, and Iraq. “The initiatives have not produced any noteworthy results, despite the serious and sincere intentions of the mediators,” al-Assad stated.
Turkey severed its ties with Syria in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, during which Ankara supported opposition groups attempting to overthrow al-Assad. The Syrian president and his regime have been accused by international bodies and human rights organizations of committing war crimes, as millions of Syrian civilians have fled from areas under the government’s control as well as from the country itself.
“The solution is openness,” al-Assad said. “Restoring a relationship requires first that we address the reasons why it was broken.” He also made it clear that he wants Turkish troops withdrawn from Syria, but stated that this is not a precondition for negotiations. “It is not accurate, as some Turkish officials have recently said, that Syria stated it would not meet with the Turks unless there is a withdrawal,” al-Assad added.
In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong supporter of the anti-Assad Syrian opposition, stated that he would invite al-Assad to talks to restore relations “at any time.” Al-Assad later acknowledged that he is open to meeting with Erdogan, but that it depends on the “content” of the meeting, noting that Turkey’s presence in Syria is a central point of contention.
Russia has attempted to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders as part of efforts to restore ties. Iraq has also indicated that they could attempt to bring the two leaders together. A Turkish newspaper previously reported that Erdogan and al-Assad might meet in August, but a Turkish diplomat refuted this report.
During the Civil War, Turkey has served as a lifeline for the Syrian opposition, providing a base for military and political figures. Turkey has also been militarily involved in areas along its border with northern Syria, as Ankara considers the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliated groups as its primary security threat.
In July, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Al Jazeera that the Turkish government had a foreign policy of “normalization,” which is part of Erdogan’s “Peace Vision.” “The region is now in a climate that seeks peace and stability,” Fidan said. “The spirit of our time compels us to pursue peace and stability.”
However, he emphasized that this policy does not mean abandoning the Syrian opposition. “We do not change our stance towards the Syrian opposition. Their relations with the regime are based on their own free decision,” Fidan asserted, pointing out that opposition fighters have fought alongside Turkish troops to protect Turkey’s security.
“It is not possible for us to forget this sacrifice. … It is out of the question for us to overlook these sacrifices and betray them,” he added.
Within Turkey, rising anti-Syrian sentiment continues, placing the Turkish government in a difficult position. Turkey currently hosts 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees—the highest number in the world. While Erdogan continues to support the principle of granting asylum to Syrians, their future is frequently raised in Turkish political debates, where some of Erdogan’s opponents promise to send them back to Syria.