Claim from Lebanese press about Turkey and Syria relations

While the normalization steps that started between Bashar al-Assad administration in Syria and Turkey and Syria after 11 years maintain their place on the agenda, the Arab press has put forward a claim that will create controversy.

The normalization process that has started between Turkey and Syria is also being followed carefully in the Middle East press.

After President Tayyip Erdogan signaled that he might meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and MIT Head Hakan Fidan met with their Syrian and Russian counterparts in Moscow in December. After this meeting, which was the first official contact with the Damascus administration after 11 years, while the normalization process was progressing, Assad declared that the “withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria for the normalization of relations with Turkey” was his requirement.

Speaking to the Russian press in Moscow last week, Assad said that he was “ready to meet with Erdogan, but for this the Turkish military had to withdraw from northern Syria.”

After this announcement, the quadrennial meeting scheduled to take place with the participation of Iran was postponed.

MEDIATORS WILL TRY TO CONVINCE ASSAD

While these developments were being carefully monitored in the region, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar put forward a remarkable claim. According to the report, Turkey is ready to make concessions for the progress of normalization talks with Damascus and is considering withdrawing its troops from Syria.

Turkey is reportedly working on a plan to withdraw troops and is evaluating options, Syrian opposition sources were quoted as confirming this. “Turkish officials are working on various options regarding the future of the Turkish military’s presence in Syria,” opposition sources told Al-Akhbar.

Al-Akhbar also said that Turkey will forward its proposals on the issue to the Russian and Iranian mediators, and will ask Tehran and Moscow to convince Syria. According to same source, “regardless of the outcome of the elections in Turkey, Ankara has also promised to adhere to the agreement to be made.”

While Russia continues its efforts to hold a four-way meeting to advance the normalization process, it is stated that Damascus has not given up its insistence on the withdrawal of Turkish troops in Syria.

SOURCE: sozcu.com.tr/2023/dunya/lubnan-basinindan-carpici-iddia-turkiye-suriyedeki-askerlerini-cekme-plani-yapiyor-7631157/