Assad says reconciliation efforts with Turkey yielded no results
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stated that efforts to restore relations with Turkey had produced no significant results, despite mediation by Russia, Iran, and Iraq. Turkey cut ties with Syria in 2011 after supporting rebels against Assad.
Reuters
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Aug. 25 that efforts to mend ties with Turkey had so far brought no tangible results.
"The initiatives did not yield any results worth mentioning despite the seriousness and genuine keenness of mediators," Assad said in a speech to the Syrian parliament, referring to conciliation efforts by Russia, Iran, and Iraq.
Turkey severed ties with Syria in 2011 after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, in which it supported rebels seeking to oust Assad. Assad views the rebels as terrorists.
"The solution is openness," Assad said. "Restoring a relationship requires first removing the causes that led to its destruction."
The Syrian president made clear that while he wants Turkish troops to withdraw from Syria, that was not a precondition for talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said earlier in July he would extend an invitation to Assad "any time" for possible talks to restore relations.
A Turkish newspaper earlier reported Erdoğan and Assad could meet in August, but a Turkish diplomat denied the report.
Russia has been trying to facilitate a meeting between the two leaders in an effort to restore ties. Iraq also said in July that it may seek to try to bring the two leaders together.