Türkiye has ‘very important role’ in fostering inclusive dialogue in Syria, says UN chief

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday emphasized Türkiye’s “very important role” in promoting inclusive dialogue in Syria.

“I believe Türkiye, which has been a very clear supporter of the Syrian people and the Syrian resistance in Idlib, has a very important role to play in convincing the key Syrian actors,” Guterres said at a news conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

He stressed the necessity for “an inclusive process of dialogue” and emphasized the need to “create the conditions that allow for a permanent cease-fire.”

Guterres also underscored the importance of preventing the presence of the Daesh terror group and its activities in Syria.

When asked about the potential lifting of sanctions on Syria, Guterres remarked, “We should not forget that the sanctions were applied to the Assad regime. The situation has changed.”

“Obviously, we are in a process of transition, and in such a process, I think there is work to be done by both sides,” he added.

Syria’s long-time leader Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus on Dec. 8, marking the end of the Baath Party regime that had governed since 1963.