Turkiye’s international minister has met with the top of Syria’s new administration, promising assist with the political transition and rebuilding the war-torn nation after the autumn of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Of their assembly in Damascus on Sunday, Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan and Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa harassed the necessity for unity and stability in Syria, as they referred to as for the lifting of all worldwide sanctions towards the war-ravaged nation.
Images and photographs shared by the Turkish ministry confirmed Fidan and al-Sharaa hug and shake fingers, their assembly coming two days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned Fidan could be going to Damascus to debate the brand new construction in Syria.
Addressing the information convention with al-Sharaa, Fidan mentioned Turkiye “will proceed to face by your facet … Hopefully the darkest days of Syria are behind [and] higher days await us.”
Fidan mentioned sanctions on Damascus should be lifted “as quickly as potential” and the worldwide group “must mobilise to assist Syria get again on its toes and for the displaced individuals to return”.
Al-Sharaa, who was holding his first public information convention since main the operation to topple al-Assad and assume energy two weeks in the past, additionally referred to as on the worldwide group to raise all sanctions towards Syria.
“All of the financial sanctions should be lifted, now the predator has gone and solely the victims stay. The components of injustice and oppression have gone. Now the time is opportune for these sanctions to be lifted,” mentioned the top of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.
“This regime has been ruling for greater than 50 years, and a few of these sanctions had been handed down within the Nineteen Seventies. That’s why the motion should be swift, these sanctions should be lifted rapidly to ensure that us to take our nation ahead.”
The 2 officers mentioned the need of drafting a brand new Syrian structure that protects the nation’s minorities. The problem of Syrian refugees, Israel’s “violations” of Syrian sovereignty, and the Kurdish Individuals’s Safety Items (YPG) challenge had been additionally on the agenda.
The opposition’s taking up of energy in Syria got here after 13 years of brutal war, which began as a largely unarmed rebellion towards al-Assad in 2011 however finally changed into an all-out battle that dragged in international powers, killed tons of of 1000’s of individuals, and turned hundreds of thousands into refugees.
Fidan’s go to to Damascus got here amid preventing in northeast Syria between Turkiye-backed Syrian fighters and the Kurdish YPG group, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organisation. Turkiye had for years backed rebels searching for to take away al-Assad, whereas additionally internet hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees it hopes will begin returning house.
Al Jazeera’s Resul Sardar, reporting from Damascus, mentioned Turkiye has supplied assist to the brand new Syrian administration, “emphasizing the significance of maintaining the state establishments up and operating”.
“Turkiye has been one of many most important backers of the Syrian opposition for the reason that rebellion began in 2011. So now Fidan was in Damascus, and he merely emphasised the significance of preserving the state apparatuses,” he mentioned.
Lebanese Druze chief additionally visits
Al-Sharaa on Sunday additionally hosted Lebanese Druze chief Walid Jumblatt as a number of governments and Syrians alike specific issues over the safety of minorities underneath the brand new Syrian authorities, together with the Kurds, Christians, Alawites, and the Druze who’re an Arab minority practising an offshoot of Islam.
“We take delight in our tradition, our faith and our Islam. Being a part of the Islamic surroundings doesn’t imply the exclusion of different sects. Quite the opposite, it’s our obligation to guard them,” al-Sharaa mentioned throughout his assembly with Jumblatt, in feedback broadcast by Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed.
Jumblatt is the primary Lebanese determine to go to Syria and meet the leaders of its new authorities.
Jumblatt, a veteran politician and outstanding Druze chief, mentioned al-Assad’s elimination must be the start of a brand new period of relations between Lebanon and Syria. A longtime critic of Syria’s involvement in Lebanon, he blamed al-Assad’s father, former President Hafez al-Assad, for the assassination of his father a long time in the past.
“We salute the Syrian individuals for his or her nice victories and we salute you on your battle that you just waged to do away with oppression and tyranny that lasted greater than 50 years,” Jumblatt advised al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, till not too long ago often known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, mentioned he would ship a authorities delegation to the southwestern Druze metropolis of Sweida in Syria, pledging to offer companies to its group in an effort to honour the nation’s “wealthy variety of sects”.
“Syria will not be a case of adverse interference in Lebanon,” he mentioned.
Al Jazeera correspondent Sardar mentioned al-Sharaa has given his assurances that every one non secular and ethnic minorities will likely be “pretty represented” in Syria.
“Whether or not the brand new administration goes to be tolerant sufficient towards the minorities, whether or not the minorities are going to be represented pretty in a brand new Syria or not – that query is being repeatedly requested to Ahmad al-Sharaa,” he mentioned.
