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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- July 7, 2024 15:01
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey would extend an invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "at any time" for possible talks to restore relations between the two neighbors.
"We will extend our invitation (to Assad), with this invitation, we want to restore Turkey-Syria relations to the same level as in the past. Our invitation can be made at any time," Erdogan said in a interview for Turkish media, reports Reuters.
Turkey severed ties with Syria in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, in which it backed rebels seeking to oust Assad.
It has carried out several cross-border military operations against militants it says threaten its national security and has established a "safe zone" in northern Syria, where Turkish troops are now stationed.
Speaking to reporters on his flight from Berlin, Erdogan also said that Ankara would positively return any positive step from Damascus, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraq's prime minister could contribute to easing contact.
"Now we have reached a point where if Bashar Assad takes a step towards improving relations with Turkey, we will also show that approach to him," Erdogan said.
Erdogan in June did not rule out a possible meeting with Assad to revive relations.
Syrian officials, however, have repeatedly said that any normalization in relations can only come after Turkey agrees to withdraw thousands of troops from the rebel-held northwest.
