No assurances, guarantees on Turkish pull-out from Syria: Sources

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
4 Sep 2024 22:25

Syrian sources tell Al Mayadeen that there is nothing new in the statements of Russian FM Sergey Lavrov regarding a pull-out of Turkish forces from Syrian territory.

Listen

Turkish army soldiers stand guard at an observation point as Syrian demonstrators gather nearby in Ibbin Samaan in the western part of Syria's northern Aleppo province on July 1, 2024. (AFP)

There is not any indication that necessitates holding a meeting at the ministerial or presidential level between Syria and Turkiye anytime soon, Syrian sources told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday, highlighting the absence of any guarantees for the withdrawal of the Turkish military from northern Syria.

The sources confirmed to Al Mayadeen that there exist no assurances or guarantees “thus far” regarding Turkiye’s readiness to discuss the withdrawal of its forces from northern Syria, noting that “there is nothing new in the statements of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on this matter.”

On August 31, Lavrov announced that a meeting involving Russia, Iran, Turkiye, and Syria to discuss the normalization of relations between Ankara and Damascus would take place soon.

There is not “any indication that necessitates holding any meeting at the ministerial or presidential level between Syria and Turkiye anytime soon,” the sources further added.

Speaking to Al Mayadeen, the sources maintained that the principles announced by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which allow for the restoration of relations between the two countries, including determining a reference in which the negotiation process is based on international law, are still standing.

They stressed that one of these principles is the recognition of the withdrawal from Syrian territory, with the agreement on how this would happen left for later.

Lavrov said in late August that "the Turks are ready for this, but so far it has not been possible to agree on specific terms."

"We are talking about the return of refugees, and the measures necessary to suppress the terrorist threat, which will make the stay of the Turkish contingents unnecessary. All of this is in the works."

In early August, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stressed the importance of progressing the negotiation process and preparing for a potential meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

When asked about the possibility of hosting such a meeting on Russian soil, Bogdanov clarified that there was no current information in this regard. However, he reaffirmed Russia's readiness to facilitate discussions in Moscow, including trilateral meetings involving representatives from Damascus and Ankara.

Bogdanov also emphasized the involvement of other regional players in the process. "Of course, we are in touch with the Iranians and Iraqis. Iran and Iraq are also very interested in the normalization of relations between Syria and Turkiye, which will have a positive impact on the overall situation in Syria and around Syria," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced in early August that a summit between the leaders of Syria and Turkiye may take place in a third country.

Syria's conditions for reconciliation with Turkiye

Syria's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 13, outlining the key conditions for any potential reconciliation with Turkiye.

The statement said that the process must focus on restoring the pre-2011 status in Syria, based on mutual respect, and addressing shared security threats.

In its statement, the Syrian government made it clear that any reconciliation efforts with Turkiye should aim to return to the situation as it was before the onset of the war on Syria in 2011.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that this initiative should not be viewed as mere media rhetoric but as a serious, fact-based endeavor grounded in mutual respect for each nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A central condition for successful reconciliation, according to the statement, is the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syrian territories.

The Syrian government insists that this step is crucial for achieving genuine reconciliation between the two countries.

The statement further highlighted the importance of joint efforts to combat terrorist groups that pose threats to both Syria and Turkiye, noting that addressing these security challenges is a shared responsibility.

Syria's Foreign Ministry also expressed gratitude to the "brotherly parties" who have assisted in facilitating the discussions and efforts toward reconciliation between Syria and Turkiye.