Erdogan will speak with Assad to mend relations between Syria and Turkey

According to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey will invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “anytime” for potential discussions aimed at mending fences between the two neighbors.

With this invitation, we hope to bring Turkey-Syria relations back to their previous state. We will extend it to Assad. According to a presidential readout of an interview obtained by Turkish media, Erdogan stated, “Our invitation may be extended at any time.”

Following the start of the Syrian civil war, in which it backed rebels seeking to overthrow Assad, Turkey broke off relations with Syria in 2011.

Turkish forces are currently stationed in a “safe zone” that has been established in northern Syria, and the country has conducted multiple cross-border military operations against extremists who it claims pose a threat to its national security.

Erdogan told reporters while returning from Berlin that Ankara would match any constructive actions taken by Damascus and that the prime minister of Iraq and Vladimir Putin of Russia might help to arrange contact.

“We have now arrived at a point where if Bashar Assad takes a step towards improving relations with Turkey, we will also show that approach towards him,” Erdogan explained.

“Putin has proposed holding discussions in Turkey with the prime minister of Iraq. Everywhere we look, mediation is being discussed. Why not with our neighbor? It was the Turkish presidency that cited him.

In June, Erdogan did not completely rule out the prospect of reviving talks with Assad.

However, Syrian officials have stated time and time again that Turkey must agree to remove thousands of troops from the northwest region controlled by the rebels before any restoration of relations can take place.