Syrian delegation reportedly walks out during Turkish FM’s speech at Arab League summit
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addresses an Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting at the organization's headquarters, Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 10, 2024. (AFP Photo)
The 162nd session of the Arab League Council saw a diplomatic disruption as the Syrian government delegation, led by Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, reportedly walked out during the speech of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The Syrian delegation left the hall after Fidan’s address began, only returning once it had concluded, according to Al Arabiya.
Syrian withdrawal, return
Footage shared on social media showed the Syrian delegation exiting the hall at the start of Fidan’s speech.
His address centered on developments in Palestine and the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank.
The Syrian delegation, however, returned to the meeting after Fidan’s speech ended. Turkish journalist Ragip Soylu also reported that only one member of the Syrian delegation was present during Fidan’s speech.
Faisal Mekdad’s pre-meeting comments
Before the meeting, Faisal Mekdad had spoken to Russia Today, expressing hopes that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for a Syrian-Turkish-Egyptian axis to confront regional threats could be realized.
However, he stressed that for any cooperation to occur, Türkiye must “withdraw from the Arab lands it has occupied in northern Syria and western Iraq.”
Faisal Mekdad emphasized the importance of these withdrawals, arguing that it is crucial for restoring normal relations between Syria and Türkiye.
He pointed to previous strategic ties, stating: “At the beginning of the current century, strategic relations were forged with Türkiye… but Türkiye deployed its army in northern Syria and set up camps in an occupation of Syrian Arab territories.”
He emphasized that Türkiye must abandon these policies once and for all.
For the benefit of both the Syrian and Turkish people, normalizing relations between the two countries is essential to effectively address shared challenges.
Efforts must be united to tackle these issues.
In response to President Erdogan’s proposal for a Syrian-Turkish-Egyptian solidarity axis to confront threats, the Syrian Foreign Minister stated Syria is focused on the present and future rather than the past.
While Syria hopes the Turkish administration is genuine in its intentions, it insists that certain conditions must be met for such cooperation. Specifically, Türkiye must withdraw from Syrian and Iraqi territories.
Recently speaking at the Syrian Parliment, the Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad expressed willingness to engage in high-level Assad Türkiye talks for normalization, stating that contrary to earlier reports, the troop withdrawal of Turkish military forces from Syrian territory is not a prerequisite for initiating discussions.
Fidan’s speech focuses on Palestine, criticism of Israel
In his speech, Fidan highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for its actions.
He called for collective efforts to pressure the international community into taking a stand against Israel’s policies.
Fidan also issued a warning to those supporting Netanyahu, stating, “They are complicit in the ongoing genocide and will be held accountable for their role.”
He added that Türkiye has imposed trade restrictions on Israel and will not reopen trade until Israel agrees to a ceasefire and provides unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
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