The Syrian President: Communication with Türkiye will be followed by raising the level of relations
The Syrian President Bashar al Assad met last week with a number of journalists away from the media.
During the meeting, they discussed a number of Syrian issues, on top of which was the file of rapprochement between Damascus and Ankara.
According to what was reported by a Lebanese newspapers, during the meeting, the Syrian President affirmed that the communication with Ankara now is only of an intelligence nature, but it will be followed by an increase in the level of meetings,” revealing that “Türkiye has shown its willingness to meet Damascus’ demands”.
During the meeting, Assad stressed that “Syria expects deeds from Türkiye, not just words,” adding that “Ankara may be more sincere than some Arabs in its approaches, but it’s not possible to judge whether the Turkish position is serious or just a political maneuver”.
Referring to the positive official Turkish statements towards Syria, President Assad called during the meeting to “stay away from promoting mere statements,” pointing out that “this must be accompanied by actions,” noting that “it is wrong for journalists and researchers to measure a policy change… Any change in any state is based on its people”.
On the other hand, Assad pointed to the existence of “contacts with the Kurdish forces about the daily problems and inconveniences in some services and life issues, and these problems are solved by means of funds,” describing the relationship with the Syria Democratic Forces as “more like tribalism,” stressing that “the dialogue with the Kurdish forces continues, but without developments”.
As for the United States, Assad stressed that it “there’s no communications with the Americans, and we count on escalating popular resistance to pressure the Americans to get out of the lands they occupy”.
President Assad also touched on the relationship between Syria and its allies, stressing that “describing Iran’s position as negligent is inaccurate,” noting that “Iran has actively supported Syria and is still supporting it economically and militarily”.
As for Russia, Assad affirmed that “Moscow provided a lot of assistance, but the reality today is different after the Russian military operation in Ukraine, and the economic and military pressures on them”.
As for the relationship with the Lebanese “Hezbollah”, Assad affirmed, “We supported Hezbollah, we still support them, and we will continue to support them because they’re a strategic ally of ours,” expressing his “fear for Lebanon and its future in light of the current reality, because it is the main side of Syria, and stability in it is very important for Syria”.
On the relationship between Syria and Iraq, President Assad affirmed that “the relationship with him is a relationship of friendship, and we rely with them on general policy, not on individual positions”.
When Assad was asked about restoring relations with the Palestinian “Hamas” movement, the Syrian president said: “Hamas made a public apology, which is an implicit apology to all the Syrian people.
As for the relationship between Syria and the Arab countries, President Assad affirmed that “we were waiting for an Egyptian position commensurate with Egypt’s Arab weight, and the Egyptian position on Damascus must be different from that of all Arabs, but the Egyptians are evasive, as they are sending messages that with the return of Damascus to the Arab League, But when this was officially discussed, Cairo was against the return of Damascus” and the Gulf, so President Assad described the position of the Sultanate of Oman as “the most rational and honest,” adding that the Emirati position comes immediately after the Omani position, and as for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s position wasn’t negative, but he was pressured not to cooperate with the Syrian government, despite the small size of Bahrain, but it was more daring through the decision to reopen the embassy in Damascus”.
Assad concluded, in this context by emphasizing that “We’ve no problem restoring normal relations with any country as it was before the war, provided it changes its behavior towards us,” stressing that “We’re open to any initiative to raise the level of relations, provided that we aren’t asked to make concessions”.
President Assad’s clarifications come at a time when several Syrian issues are witnessing a state of ambiguity about their fate.
