Erdogan reassures backing of Syria
(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed his backing for Syria's transitional leadership, stating that Türkiye stands by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and firmly opposes any division within the neighboring country.
“We will not leave al-Sharaa alone,” Erdogan said, rejecting the idea of a fragmented Syria and emphasizing that the nation’s recovery is in Türkiye’s interest. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters during his return from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday night.
Erdogan emphasized the importance of countering destabilizing forces in Syria, saying, “At a time when even unlikely actors are coming together on Syria, it's crucial to explain to the world Israel is disrupting efforts to restore stability.”
Since December 2024, Ankara has recognized and supported the interim administration led by al-Sharaa following the fall of the Assad regime. Addressing the fragile ceasefire in Suwayda—a region recently rocked by clashes involving Bedouin tribes, the Druze minority, and an Israeli intervention—Erdogan noted that al-Sharaa had shown resilience with no intention of backing down.
"Israel does not want stability in the region. It believes that a unified Syria would not be in its interest and continues with such provocations," he said.
Touching on the long-standing Cyprus conflict, Erdogan stated that he has no intention of visiting Southern Cyprus, declaring: “Just as they do not recognize TRNC as a state, we don't recognize Southern Cyprus as a state.” He reiterated Türkiye’s firm stance that a resolution can only come through a two-state solution and asserted there would be “no compromise” on this position.
On defense matters, Erdogan mentioned discussions about acquiring Eurofighter jets, noting that both the UK and Germany have shown a “positive” attitude toward the deal.
He also called on the European Union to act without delay in restarting Türkiye’s EU membership talks, urging the bloc to stop stalling the process.
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