Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, July 7, that he could invite “ at any time ” his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Turkey, a gesture of reconciliation after the rupture between Ankara and Damascus caused by the start of the war in Syria in 2011.
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The Turkish president’s comments come as tensions have been rising over the past week against Syrian refugees in Türkiyea mob that attacked Syrian-owned properties and vehicles in the Anatolian city of Kayseri.
“ We can send an invitation [à Assad] at any time “, Erdogan told reporters from the official Anadolu news agency on board a plane from Berlin, where he attended his national team’s final match at Euro 2024 football.
Reconsidering Turkey-Syria Relations
Turkey initially intended to overthrow the regime Bashar al-Assadwhen the Syrian conflict erupted with the violent repression of peaceful protesters in 2011. However, after supporting various insurgent groups, Ankara has recently shown itself more willing to prevent a ” corridor of terror “, in the words of the Turkish president in 2019, does not open in the north of the Syria.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long indicated that he may reconsider his relationship with the Syrian leader. Speaking to reporters on a plane returning from Berlin, where he attended the Euro 2024 match between the Netherlands and Turkey, the Turkish president said that some leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, had suggested a meeting with Bashar al-Assad in Turkey.
” We have reached a point where, as soon as Bashar al-Assad takes a step towards better relations with Turkey, we will show him the same approach. ” assured Mr. Erdogan.
Anti-Syrian riots in Türkiye
This week, Turkish authorities arrested more than 470 people following anti-Syrian riots in several cities, sparked by accusations that a Syrian man was suspected of harassing a minor Syrian girl who was part of his entourage.
Read alsoAnti-Syrian Violence Erupts in Türkiye, Syrians Respond with Deadly Protests
Hundreds of Syrians demonstrated across Ankara-controlled areas of northern Syria on Monday, with some armed protesters attacking Turkish trucks and military posts and taking down Turkish flags. Erdogan accused the opposition of stoking tensions and condemned the anti-Syrian violence as ” unacceptable ” He further promised to reveal ” what dirty hands ” triggered the clashes in northern Syria.
Attacks in Turkey on Syrian businesses and property began in Kayseri and have spread to several other cities, including Istanbul this week. The violence has led to anti-Turkish violence in northern Syria. Clashes between armed protesters and Turkish guards left seven people dead. The plight of Syrian refugees has regularly cropped up in Turkish political debate, with opponents of President Erdogan vowing to send them back to Syria.