Ankara orders 'Syrian Opposition Coalition' to leave Turkey

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Aug 22:38
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Ankara, reconsidering its relations with Damascus, orders the "Syrian Opposition Coalition" to relocate.

Turkey-backed fighters in Aleppo, Syria, December 29, 2018 (AFP)

Turkey is reconsidering its relations with Syria, with its most recent initiative as Ankara calls on the "Syrian Opposition Coalition" to withdraw from Turkey, according to a number of sources.

According to a news reporter for the Iranian Tasnim news agency, sources revealed that a meeting last week between a Turkish official and the president of the Coalition Salem Al-Muslat saw the Turkish official assert that Ankara is determined to rebuild its relations with Damascus and that they [the so-called opposition] will just have to accept reality.

Ultimately, the Coalition forces will have to migrate and relocate to another country and halt all political and media activities in Turkey.

In recent weeks, there is a clear change in tone regarding Turkey in media outlets close to the Coalition forces. The outlets have been resorting to harsh criticism against Turkey, citing “Turkish racism and violent actions against the Syrian refugees," which was not the case in terms of the rhetoric before.

The Coalition agreed to leave Turkey in the aforementioned meeting, with Al-Muslat suggesting relocation to Saudi Arabia.

No conditions

Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that a dialogue is taking place between the Syrian and Turkish intelligence services.

Cavusoglu revealed that Ankara does not have preconditions regarding the dialogue with Syria, but that the dialogue must have specific goals.

"From the very beginning, Turkey said that the most important process is the political one," he said, adding that Syria should not see the opposition as terrorists.