Turkish Foreign Minister calls for lifting sanctions on Syria as soon as possible and calls for mobilizing efforts to return the displaced to their country
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called during a joint press conference with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al Sharaa, in Damascus on Sunday, to lift sanctions imposed on Syria as soon as possible.
“The international community must mobilize all its efforts so that Syria can rise and the displaced can return to their country… The sanctions imposed on the former regime must be lifted as soon as possible so that services can be provided,” Fidan said.
The commander-in-chief of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al Sharaa, stated, Sunday, that Türkiye was supportive of the Syrian people and stood by them, stressing that Damascus will build strategic relations with Ankara.
Sharaa said in a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Damascus, “There was a long discussion between us and the Foreign Minister about the future situation and challenges, including security and economic challenges, as well as the shape of the political future, the relationship with neighboring countries, strengthening the government and, on the military side, making weapons exclusively in the hands of the state”.
He added, “The minister expressed Türkiye’s readiness to help Syria rise again, especially since the country was destroyed during the era of the previous regime,” noting that “Türkiye stood with the Syrian people, and God willing, we will build strategic relations with Türkiye”.
The head of the Syrian administration stressed the need to protect minorities, emphasizing the importance of coexistence in the multi-ethnic and multi-sectarian state after the overthrow of former President Bashar al Assad.
Sharaa said, “We’re working to protect sects and minorities from any internal conflict or from any external tool exploiting this scene to incite sectarian strife,” adding, “Syria is a country for everyone and we can coexist with each other”.
For his part, Fidan said, “We hope that the international community, especially the Arab world, will support and maintain contact with the new Syrian administration, and we cannot hesitate to protect the territorial integrity of Syria”.
He added, “We stressed that there is no place for terrorist organizations such as the Kurdish units in the future of Syria, and we stressed the fight against these terrorist organizations, and we support the fight against ISIS… We’ll not allow any terrorist organization to continue in Syria”.
He stressed that “Israel must respect the unity of Syrian territory, and stop its attacks, and there must be a reaction to what Israel is doing”.
