-
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Meets New Syrian Administration Officials in Damascus
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met today, Sunday, in the capital Damascus, with officials from the new Syrian administration, led by "Abu Mohammed" Ahmad al-Sharah, the commander of the administration.
Local media had reported earlier today that a large security convoy from Turkey, consisting of about 100 vehicles, entered from northern Syria to Damascus.
Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed in statements yesterday that plans are in place for a visit to Damascus to meet with officials from the new Syrian administration, pointing out that "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" has not engaged in any terrorist activities for a decade.
Fidan explained during an interview with France 24 that Ankara has not observed any terrorist activities by "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" over the past ten years. He added, "This assessment is not limited to us; Western intelligence agencies have also reached the same conclusion."
He went on to clarify that the classification of the group on Turkey's terrorist lists is linked to United Nations resolutions, stating, "We adhere to Security Council decisions, but there is a conflict between the legal and factual dimensions of the current situation."
The Turkish minister emphasized the importance of international meetings with the new Syrian administration, noting that Damascus has recently received delegations from the United States, Europe, and international organizations, reflecting an international openness toward this administration.
This visit comes at a sensitive time as Turkey reassesses its positions toward the active parties in Syria, indicating potential changes in regional strategy, with a focus on cooperation in combating terrorism and rebuilding relationships with influential entities in the Syrian arena.
