ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa held a closed-door meeting in Istanbul on Saturday and discussed bilateral relations, as well as regional and global developments, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The two leaders were seen greeting each other outside Erdogan’s office, ahead of a meeting that the private Turkish news channel NTV said lasted more than two and a half hours.
During the meeting, Erdogan emphasized the strengthening of Turkey-Syria bilateral ties and cooperation in all areas, especially energy, defence, and transportation, Anadolu reported.
President Erdogan expressed his belief that Syria will see brighter and more peaceful days ahead, and he affirmed that Ankara will continue to stand by Damascus as it has until now.
“Israel’s occupation and aggression in Syria are unacceptable and Turkey will continue to oppose it,” Erdogan said as quoted by Anadolu.
Following the US and EU decisions to lift sanctions on Syria, al-Sharaa made his first visit to Turkey.
Erdogan welcomed the beginning of the sanctions removal process and emphasised the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and managing the country and its army through a single central authority.
Syrian president thanked Erdogan for his crucial support and efforts toward lifting sanctions on Damascus.
Erdogan was accompanied at the meeting by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey’s Defence Industries Secretariat Haluk Gorgun, chief presidential adviser on foreign policy and security Akif Cagatay Kilic, and Chief Advisor to the President Sefer Turan.
The Syrian delegation included its foreign and defence ministers and would “discuss a number of common issues” with the Turkish side, the Syrian presidency said on Telegram.
Since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, the new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions.
Both Erdogan and Sharaa have expressed their determination to work together to combat terror threats in Syria.
Ankara has called for the expulsion of foreign Kurdish fighters from northeastern Syria and has said it wants to help its neighbour fight terrorism.
Amid the moves to lift sanctions, the US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday he had assumed the role of special envoy to Syria.
