Erdogan open to restoring ties with Syria: ‘Syrian people are our brothers’

Following Friday prayers, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed comments by Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad about being open to “all initiatives” for restoring ties with Türkiye.

‘We have no intention to interfere’

Erdogan stated, “We have no intention of interfering in Syria’s internal affairs. The Syrian people are our brothers. There is no reason not to establish diplomatic relations. Just as we have worked together in the past to develop these relations with Syria, we will continue to move forward in the same way.”

He emphasized, “We do not have, nor will we ever have, any goal of meddling in Syria’s internal matters. The Syrian people are a community with whom we have lived as brotherly nations.”

Erdogan continued, “And just as we have kept our relations with Syria very vibrant, even to the point of family meetings, we had discussions with Mr. Assad. There is no such thing as ‘it won’t happen tomorrow’; why shouldn’t it? We absolutely have no intention of interfering in Syria’s internal affairs.”