Riyadh, January 12, 2025 – The Europe Today: Türkiye is committed to supporting Syria during its challenging transitional period, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated at a high-level meeting in Riyadh on Sunday. The gathering, aimed at discussing Syria’s future, brought together foreign ministers from 12 regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting follows the establishment of a new administration in Syria, led by Ahmed al Sharaa, after the ouster of Bashar al Assad last month. The new Syrian government has called for lifting sanctions to aid recovery from nearly 14 years of devastating civil war.
Addressing regional concerns, Fidan emphasized that preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and unity remains a critical priority. He also urged the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is led by the YPG—the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist organization—to dissolve if it genuinely seeks integration with Syria’s central government. The PKK has been designated as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, having been responsible for over 40,000 deaths in its four-decade campaign.
Fidan underlined the ongoing threat posed by the PKK and its affiliates to the Arab majority in eastern Euphrates and accused them of exploiting vital natural resources needed for Syria’s recovery. He also called for coordinated efforts to bolster the new government’s ability to combat Daesh/ISIS effectively.
“We can work together to strengthen the new government’s ability to effectively fight Daesh/ISIS. As Türkiye, we are ready to do our part to help ease the difficult path ahead for the Syrian people,” Fidan said.
Regional Responsibility and Future Coordination
Fidan highlighted that the responsibility for Syria’s future lies predominantly with regional countries, adding that visible signs of normalization in the war-torn nation are encouraging. “In this critical period, we must act as a balancing force, carefully aligning the expectations of the international community with the realities faced by Syria’s new government,” he noted.
The Turkish foreign minister proposed establishing coordination mechanisms or committees to make support for Syria more effective and suggested identifying priority sectors to secure future sanctions exemptions.
The Riyadh meeting will be followed by an international forum featuring foreign ministers from Türkiye, the UK, and Germany, alongside deputy foreign ministers from the US and Italy, reflecting a broader international effort to address Syria’s pressing challenges.
