No progress in reconciliation efforts with Türkiye, says Syrian regime leader

Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad stated on Sunday that efforts to reconcile with Türkiye have not produced any tangible outcomes.

“The initiatives did not yield any results worth mentioning despite the seriousness and genuine keenness of mediators,” Assad said in a speech to the Syrian parliament, referring to mediation efforts led by Russia, Iran, and Iraq.

Türkiye cut diplomatic ties with Syria in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. On the other hand, Türkiye supports moderate opposition groups against the Assad regime in Syria.

‘Solution is openness’

“The solution is openness,” Assad said. “Restoring a relationship requires first removing the causes that led to its destruction.” He noted that although he seeks the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syrian territory, this demand is not a precondition for initiating talks.

In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated his willingness to invite Assad for discussions to restore diplomatic relations.

Meanwhile, Russia has been actively working to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders as part of its broader efforts to stabilize the region. Iraq also said in July that it might seek to try to bring Erdogan and Assad together.