Turkish ministries seek collaboration with new Syrian administration

Both Turkey's Transportation Ministry and the Energy Ministry announced that they have been seeking collaboration with the new Syrian administration. This follows President Erdoğan's statement that Ankara aims to strengthen ties with Syria in areas such as trade, energy, and defense.

Wednesday December 25 2024 08:06 am

Reuters

While Turkish Transport Ministry has stated that the government seek to have a maritime border deal with the new Syrian administration, the Energy Ministry said that it would send a delegation to Syria for possible collaboration.

Turkey aiming for maritime agreement with Syria, transport minister says

Turkey is aiming to strike a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria after a permanent government is formed in Damascus, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said on Dec. 24.

Turkey, which backed Syrian rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad this month after a 13-year civil war, has been in close contact with the new interim administration of its neighbor, including Turkey's intelligence chief and foreign minister meeting with de-facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week said Ankara would improve ties with Syria including in trade, energy and defense.

Turkey is also planning to start negotiations with the new Syrian administration on a possible maritime demarcation agreement, Transport Minister Uraloğlu told reporters.

"Of course an authority must first be established there... It will be on our agenda for sure, but it's hard to say that it's on today's agenda," Uraloğlu said.

The maritime demarcation agreement would be in line with international law and would allow two countries to determine authorities for oil and hydrocarbon exploration, the minister also said.

Turkish energy ministry delegation to visit Syria to discuss energy cooperation

A delegation from Turkey's Energy Ministry would visit Syria "soon" to discuss possible energy cooperation including transmitting electricity to ease power shortages, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Dec. 23.

Erdoğan last week said that Ankara would do whatever necessary for the reconstruction of Syria.

"A delegation from the Energy Ministry will visit Syria as soon as possible and will conduct examinations on electricity and energy infrastructure of Syria," Bayraktar told reporters.

The Turkish delegation will also discuss energy cooperation with the new Syrian government and Turkey's possible assistance on the issue, Bayraktar added.

"The main problem in Syria in the field of energy is the electricity (shortage) at the moment. A formula will be sought (for Turkey) to provide electricity to Syria," he added.

Turkey currently provides electricity to some parts of northern Syria where it has mounted four military operations since 2016.