ISTANBUL, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that he is ready to meet with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations between the two countries.
Erdogan made the remarks at a press conference in Istanbul ahead of his departure for the United States to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“We have expressed our willingness to meet with Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria,” he said. “Now we are waiting for a response from the other side. We are ready for it.”
The Turkish leader expressed his desire for unity between the two Muslim countries, hoping that a meeting would mark the beginning of a new era in their bilateral relations.
“For peace and stability in all Syrian territories, steps that Turkey and Syria can take together are crucial, especially since the Assad regime recognizes the opposition’s efforts to maintain peace,” he said.
Erdogan said this creates a favorable environment for paving the way for a lasting solution, as millions of people outside Syria await the opportunity to return home.
Following the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, Turkey’s relations with Syria deteriorated significantly as Ankara aligned itself with several opposition factions against the Syrian government.
Since 2015, Türkiye has carried out several military operations in Syria, alleging that the Syrian government has supported the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
