Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Turkey is ready to discuss all issues with the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, including a partial or complete withdrawal from Syria, BBC Turkey reported on January 18, citing a Turkish security official.
Following the outbreak of the war in Syria more than a decade ago, Ankara cut all ties with Damascus. Today, the Turkish military occupies vast parts of the country’s northern region. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government are now working to restore relations with the war-torn country with help from Russia.
The unnamed Turkish officials said that Turkey’s military operations in Syria and its presence in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib, the last bastion of al-Qaeda’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, are in line with agreement approved by Russia and Iran, both are allies of Damascus.
“There are no red lines or preconditions on the table today,” the official told BBC Turkey, stressing that any issue can be negotiated, including the complete or partial withdrawal of the Turkish military from Syria.
The official noted that any preconditions could hinder the ongoing Turkish-Syrian talks, which are sponsored by Russia, adding that both sides view meeting on a single table in itself as a “success.”
BBC Turkey’s report came around a week after President Assad stated that future talks with Ankara should aim for “the end of occupation” by Turkey of parts of Syria.
In December, Moscow hosted a breakthrough meeting between the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria. A more important meeting between the foreign minsters is currently being organized. The Turkish withdrawal from Syria will likely be one of the meeting’s key points.
Damascus reportedly wants the Turkish military to withdraw from Greater Idlib, at least to behind the strategic M4 highway, as a first step. Ankara is yet to agree to this.
The remarks of the Turkish official indicate that Ankara is serious about the rapprochement with Damascus and willing to shift its stance on the war in Syria in a drastic way to facilitate the process.
