After his meeting with Putin in Astana… Erdogan hints at the possibility of inviting Assad with Putin to Türkiye
After leaving the Kazakh capital Astana immediately after his participation in the 24th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Erdogan answered questions from reporters inside his plane.
One journalist asked him on his presidential plane, “I’ve already said that there is no reason not to restore diplomatic relations with Syria, what are your conditions or what developments must occur in order to meet with Bashar al Assad?”
Erdogan replied, “I already said on Friday, after Friday prayers, we can start a new process with Syria, we may extend an invitation to Mr. Putin and Bashar al Assad, if Mr. Putin can visit Türkiye, this could be the beginning of a new process, the years that have passed in Syria have clearly shown everyone the need to find a mechanism for a lasting solution, and it’s necessary for Syria, whose infrastructure has been destroyed and its people dispersed, to get back on its feet and for the instability to end”.
“The recent calm on the ground can open the door to peace through smart policies and solutions-oriented and unbiased approaches… It’s a problem that instability in the region provides room for the movement of terrorist organizations, especially the PKK/PYD/YPG”.
Erdogan added, “It’s important to eliminate these terrorist structures, in cooperation and without discrimination, in order to build a future Syria, and it’s important to build the democratic infrastructure in Syria, ensure a comprehensive and honorable peace, and deal with all of these matters on the basis of Syria’s territorial integrity”.
“The winds of peace that will blow over the Syria and the climate of peace that will prevail throughout the Syria are also necessary for the return of millions of people scattered in various countries to their countries… We’ve always extended a hand of friendship to our Syria neighbor, and we will continue to do so… We’ll always stand by a prosperous, united and complete Syria, embracing on the basis of a new, just, honorable and inclusive social contract… As long as Syria initiates this great embrace and recovers in every field,” Erdogan said.
