Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani revealed that his government is actively working towards facilitating reconciliation between Turkey and the Syrian regime. Speaking to the channel “Haber Turk,” Sudani stated that we can expect to see significant steps in this direction soon.
Sudani emphasized his communication with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on reconciliation efforts. He drew parallels between these efforts and Iraq’s role in the normalization agreement between Tehran and Riyadh, expressing a desire to achieve a similar foundation for dialogue between Syria and Turkey.
The Prime Minister highlighted Iraq’s substantial efforts, particularly in reinstating Syria’s seat in the Arab League. He noted that Iraq shares Turkey’s perspective on fostering dialogue and reconciliation with the Syrian regime.
He also pointed out that the security threats facing both Iraq and Turkey originate from regions in Syria not controlled by the Syrian government. According to Sudani, there is a mutual interest in aligning perspectives to address disagreements and concentrate on common issues.
Following Erdogan’s victory in last year’s Turkish presidential elections, Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesperson for the Turkish presidency, stated there was no immediate plan for a summit between Erdogan and Assad. Kalin noted that while relevant parties and intelligence chiefs are advancing related issues, there is no immediate plan for such a high-level meeting.
Previously, the Turkish newspaper “Yeni Safak” reported a Turkish official outlining four conditions for normalizing relations with the Syrian regime. These include amending the Syrian constitution to enable democratic reforms, holding inclusive and fair elections to establish a legitimate government representative of all Syrians, ensuring the dignified and safe return of Syrian refugees through a written agreement, and addressing the refugee issue as a critical aspect of normalization with Syria.
