Turkish FM Fidan on Syria: “There must never be a desire for revenge”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Türkiye has begun working on plans to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, following major developments in Damascus where opposition forces have taken control of the capital and President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left the country.

Speaking at the Doha Forum 2024 in Qatar, Fidan outlined Türkiye’s vision for Syria’s transition period, stating “the new administration must be established in an orderly manner. The principal of inclusiveness must never be compromised. There must never be a desire for revenge.”

“The return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is crucial for us, and we have already begun working on this,” he added.

In a written statement he read following the event, Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s future:

“Turkey stands ready to take responsibility for whatever is necessary to heal Syria’s wounds and ensure its unity, integrity, and security moving forward. We will intensify our efforts with regional countries and international actors in the coming days. Through these efforts, millions of Syrians who were forced to leave their homes will be able to return to their own lands.”

The refugee situation holds particular significance for Türkiye, which currently hosts 3.6 million Syrians, making it a critical issue in both domestic politics and international diplomatic relations.

Fidan: “Regime has been deterriorating”

Answering question if Türkiye had been in contact with the Syrian authorities, the Foreign Minister stated that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had attempted to establish contact with Assad in recent months, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

“We anticipated something would happen,” Fidan said, stating that “the regime had been gradually deteriorating despite having valuable time since the 2016 Astana process to address institutional challenges.” He said that that might contributed the rapid fall of Damascus.

He stated that Türkiye’s priority in Syria’s transition is “protecting state institutions and ensuring fair treatment of all minorities,” adding that Türkiye “is working with regional and international actors to prevent terrorist organizations, particularly ISIS and PKK, from taking advantage the current situation.”

“Continue working with the US”

Regarding the coordination of various opposition groups now in control of Damascus, Fidan expressed optimism about their ability to work together but emphasized that any Kurdish participation must exclude PKK-affiliated groups.

“There are legitimate Kurdish parties that we work together in northern Syria who are part of the wider opposition,” he stated, while firmly rejecting any role for PKK-affiliated groups in Syria’s future.

The Foreign Minister also highlighted recent meetings with Astana process partners Russia and Iran, as well as consultations with Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan.

He also noted that Türkiye would continue working with the United States, particularly on security concerns and counter-terrorism efforts.