Erdoğan says normalization with Syria possible

* Photo: Mustafa Kamacı / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdağan spoke in the "Youth Meeting '' organized by AKP Konya organization yesterday (November 27). Erdoğan responded to a question on his recent meeting with Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt in Qatar.

"We took this step with the intervention of Qatar's emir"

"In our meeting with El-Sisi, I also told him, the issue is far beyond something to be discussed at the level of leaders, our relations with the people of Egypt are very different, there is a history there.

"Recently, we experienced a problem for a 9-year period. We took this step that evening, especially with the intervention of Qatar's emir. After overcoming that difficulty, we had a narrow-scoped meeting with El-Sisi for half an hour or 45 minutes."

Erdoğan said, "We told them. Now let us start a process with our ministers, then let us enlarge and develop these talks. All we care about is to overcome this resentment. There shouldn't be such a problem between Türkiye and Egypt in the Mediterranean."

"Greece to reach these points, that just won't do"

"We also spoke about some very different issues. And the information I received afterwards is that he was very happy about this meeting. We also conveyed the same feelings. Now that this process has started, it will continue with our ministers."

"Then we should come together in the Mediterranean, since the connections of the people of Egypt and Türkiye are very different, we should not lose this power to others. Greece to reach these points, that just won't do. Therefore I believe that there will be good developments."

"It may get back on track with Syria"

"There are those who wanted to turn Türkiye's discontent with the Gulf countries into their benefits." Erdoğan said, adding, "When these issues are eliminated, the plans collapsed."

"Our relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are in a very good position. It will be even better."

Erdoğan said, in relation to diplomatic relations with Syria. "This is obviously disturbing some circles. In the following period, it may get back on track with Syria as well, in the same manner with how it happened with Egypt. There is no room for hard feelings in politics."

"Esad rejected Erdoğan's proposal"

Associated Press (AP) reported on November 23, that President Erdoğan has sent a message to Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria through Iran.

Citing a "Lebanese politician who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about sensitive Syrian affairs" the agency reported that Erdoğan called for "the return of the Syrian army to areas now controlled by the Kurds" and also "for action to prevent Kurdish fighters from using Syrian gas and oil and for Syrian refugees in Türkiye to be returned to Syria."

AP reported that in the message conveyed through Iran "Erdoğan has stated that they are ready to send officials from Türkiye to Demascus, but that Esad had rejected this, saying that a meeting could be held in a third country."

Again according to the AP report, a senior government official from Türkiye denied any Iranian mediation, arguing that "Tehran was antagonistic toward Türkiye in Syria." The official said it was Russia that pushed Türkiye toward reconciliation but that there was "no progress at all." 

What did Erdoğan say?

President Erdoğan answered a question "Will you also meet Esad" referring to him meeting with Sisi, again on November 23 and said, "Possible. There is no room for hard feelings in politics. In the end steps are taken under the best fit conditions." (SD/PE)