News - Middle East: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says rapprochement with Turkey requires mutual respect for sovereignty and a true commitment to addressing the root causes of tensions in bilateral relations between Damascus and Ankara.

Despite high-level meetings mediated by Russia, Iran, and Iraq over the past five years, little progress has been made due to the absence of a clear framework and helpful guidelines, Assad said on Sunday as he was addressing the People's Assembly, Syria's legislative authority.

“For any normalization of relations to occur, Turkey must reverse the policies that have led to the current situation, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory and the cessation of support for terrorist groups,” he said.

Assad emphasized that such issues are not mere conditions but fundamental requirements for successful diplomacy.

The Syrian leader also called for a formal agreement between Damascus and Ankara, which would outline the principles for future negotiations and ensure that all steps are aligned with international law and the sovereignty of both countries.

Assad further noted that Syria must remain steadfast in defending its sovereignty and pursuing its national interests amid current global crises.

“Our capacity to influence events within our borders depends not just on military and economic power but on our collective will to resist external pressures,” he said.

Assad added that Syria would continue to seek solutions that protect its territorial integrity and national dignity.

“We will not abandon any of our rights under any circumstances, nor will we ask others to relinquish theirs. This is a principle that guides our approach to all negotiations,” he said.

The process of normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus kicked off on December 28, 2022, when the Russian, Syrian and Turkish defense ministers met in Moscow, in what was the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the outbreak of the Syria conflict.

Since 2016, Turkey has conducted three major ground operations against US-backed militants based in northern Syria.

The Turkish government accuses the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militants of bearing ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group.

Syria considers the Turkish presence on its soil to be illegal, saying it reserves the right to defend its sovereignty against the occupying forces.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has tied rapprochement with Turkey to Ankara’s ending occupation of the northern parts of the Arab country and its support for militant groups wreaking havoc and fighting against the Damascus government.

Source: Press TV