Breaking Up Since 2011, Erdogan Now Invites Assad To Discuss Recovery Of Turkey-Syria Relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkey)

JAKARTA - Turkey will extend its invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at any time to possible talks on restoring relations between the two countries. This was conveyed directly by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Sunday, July 7, quoted from Reuters. "We will extend our invitation (to Assad) with this invitation, we want to restore Turkey-Suriah relations to the same level as in the past. Our invitation can be extended at any time," Erdogan said according to a presidential interview reading by Turkish media. Turkey cut ties with Syria in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. At that time, Turkey supported the rebels who wanted to overthrow Assad. They have carried out several cross-border military operations against militants which they say threaten their national security, and formed a "safe zone" in northern Syria where Turkish forces are now stationed. Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Berlin, Erdogan also said Ankara would retaliate for any positive steps from Damascus, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister could contribute to facilitating the contact. "We have now come to a point where if Bashar Assad takes steps to improve relations with Turkey, we will also show him that approach," Erdogan said. "Putin and the Iraqi prime minister have approaches to talks in Turkey. We talk about mediation everywhere, why not with our neighbors?" he was quoted as saying by the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan in June did not rule out the possibility of a meeting with Assad to revive relations. But Syrian officials have repeatedly said that normalization of any relationship can only be carried out after Turkey agreed to withdraw thousands of troops from the northwest controlled by the rebels.