The first steps are being taken to erase the traces of war in Syria and help the country get back on its feet. One of the most striking of these steps will be the restoration works to be carried out in the area where the tomb of the last Ottoman sultan, Sultan Vahdettin, is located.
FIRST VISIT FROM TURKEY
The 61-year-old Baath regime in Syria was overthrown. The country is now under the control of groups led by HTS. According to IHA; The first official visit from Turkey to the newly established government took place when Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus. Minister Fidan met with Ahmed Shara, the leader of the new administration in Syria. Fidan and Shara also drank tea at Mount Kasyun, which has a bird’s eye view of Damascus.
SULTAN VAHDETTIN’S TOMB IS ALSO THERE
Meanwhile, teams from Turkey are also present in the region to erase the traces of war from Syria. There is also the tomb of the last Ottoman sultan, Vahdettin, in the Suleymaniye Complex in the capital Damascus. The restoration work on the mosque was left unfinished due to the Syrian civil war. One of the first tasks in Syria’s new era will be the completion of the restoration work.
DAMASCUS AMBASSADOR KÖROĞLU: “THE TEAMS WILL FIRST CARRY OUT THE RESTORATION WORKS”
Sharing the details of the new works in his statements to TRT Haber, Damascus Embassy Temporary Chargé d’Affaires Burhan Köroğlu said, “The teams will first carry out restoration work in the area where the tomb of the last Ottoman sultan, Sultan Vahdettin, is located, and together, Syria will rise again.”
“WE ARE THE FIRST COUNTRY TO OPEN THE FIRST EMBASSY AND RAISE THE FLAG IN THE NEW TERM”
Stating that Turkey came to the region with all its institutions after the fall of the old regime in Damascus, Köroğlu said, “First of all, we are the first country to open the first embassy in the new era and raise the flag. Apart from that, many Turkish institutions came to the country for emergency aid. During the 13-year war, Turkey opened its doors to its Syrian brothers and sisters. “For this reason, the relations between the two countries will be at a high level,” he said.
“WE WILL SEE TURKEY’S SUPPORT IN SYRIA VERY CLEARLY”
Stating that institutions from Turkey are in Syria, Köroğlu said, “First of all, our teams will carry out the restoration of the Süleymaniye Lodge, where the tomb of Sultan Vahdettin is located. We will clearly see Turkey’s support here.”
THE RESTORATION WAS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO THE CIVIL WAR
Three years ago, during the Assad regime, foundations in Syria made an agreement with a company for 16 million dollars for the restoration work in the Sultan Selim Mosque. Restoration work began on the mosque, which was closed to worship and visitors, but due to the civil war, regular payments were not made to the company and the restoration work was never completed.
WORKS HAVE STARTED WITH THE NEW MANAGEMENT
Following the overthrow of the Assad regime on December 8 and the lifting of the curfew, the company started restoration work again. The company will also negotiate with the interim Syrian government for receivable payments.
“A 16 MILLION DOLLAR RESTORATION PROJECT”
Project Manager Ghassan Ghanem said, “We started the restoration of this place three years ago. Foundations in Syria undertook the financing. But we couldn’t get our money. Most of our money remained inside. We will make our applications to the new government. We will complete this restoration. We have already completed 85 percent of the restoration. “This is a $16 million restoration project,” he said.
“VAHDETTIN HAN’S GRAVE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO TURKEY”
In the first years of the civil war in Syria, Sultan II. Abdülhamid’s grandson, Abdülhamid Kayıhan Osmanoğlu, drew attention to the events in Syria and asked for Vahdettin Khan’s grave to be brought to Turkey.
