Damascus, Dec. 22 (SANA) In a joint press conference at the People’s Palace in Damascus, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, addressed key issues discussed with the Turkish delegation, emphasizing efforts to enhance bilateral relations and the integration of the (SDF) into Syrian government institutions.
Al-Shaibani highlighted that President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed key topics with the Turkish delegation, primarily focusing on economic and trade cooperation following the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria. Additional discussions included strengthening intelligence and military cooperation, as well as facilitating the return of refugees.
“We addressed efforts to counter terrorism, fight ISIS, and prevent its reemergence in Syria, alongside developing a shared vision for northeastern Syria,” al-Shaibani stated.
He further emphasized that the March 10th agreement with the SDF “reflects Syria’s commitment to unifying its territories,” but noted, “we have not seen a serious commitment from them to implement the agreement.” Al-Shaibani added that the Syrian government recently proposed a plan to advance the agreement, and a response was received yesterday, which is currently under review.
The foreign minister also underscored the strategic importance of the Al-Jazira region in northeastern Syria, calling it an “essential part of Syria” that receives significant attention from the state. He warned that any delay in the integration of the SDF would negatively impact the region and impede reconstruction efforts.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan praised the talks in Damascus, calling them “fruitful” and discussed “important issues based on our strategic cooperation.” He stressed that Turkey places “great importance on Syria’s stability” and is ready to offer all forms of support to achieve that. Fidan added, “Syria’s stability is Turkey’s stability,” and welcomed the lifting of the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, calling it a crucial step for regional stability.
“We discussed Israeli aggressions on Syrian territory and emphasized that Israel must abandon its expansionist policies to achieve stability in Syria and the broader region,” Fidan said.
He also noted that the discussions addressed the SDF issue, stressing the importance of implementing the March 10th agreement. Fidan pointed out that the integration of the SDF into the Syrian government would benefit everyone, but stated, “It seems they have no intention of implementing the agreement.” He concluded that the talks also focused on “combating ISIS and identifying ways we can work together to confront it.”
Abul.A
