Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday, promising help with the political transition and rebuilding war-torn Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.
During their meeting in Damascus, Fidan and al-Sharaa stressed the need for unity and stability in Syria as they called for lifting all international sanctions against the country.
Fidan said Turkey “will continue to stand by your side” and hopes that better days await Syria. He also emphasized the importance of helping Syria get back on its feet after years of brutal conflict.
Al-Sharaa, who has been leading Syria’s new administration since toppling al-Assad two weeks ago, called for swift lifting of economic sanctions imposed on Damascus. The head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group said that these sanctions have caused injustice and oppression, and now it is the right time to lift them.
The two officials discussed drafting a new Syrian constitution that protects the country’s minorities and addressed the issue of Syrian refugees, Israel’s “violations” of Syrian sovereignty, and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) issue.
Turkey has offered help to the new Syrian administration, with Fidan emphasizing the importance of preserving state institutions. The visit comes amid fighting in northeast Syria between Turkey-backed fighters and the YPG group.
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt also visited al-Sharaa on Sunday, expressing concerns over protecting minorities under the new Syrian government.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/22/turkiye-fm-meets-syrias-new-leader-calls-for-lifting-of-global-sanctions