Turkey marked a pivotal diplomatic shift on Saturday by reopening its embassy in Damascus, Syria, after a 12-year hiatus. This move comes in the wake of a dramatic change in Syria's political landscape, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
The reopening of the embassy signifies Ankara's evolving approach towards Syria, a country that has been embroiled in civil war for over a decade.
The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in March 2012 amid escalating violence during the early years of Syria’s civil war. The closure was a response to the Syrian government's violent crackdown on peaceful protests in 2011, which eventually spiraled into a full-blown conflict.
However, with the recent toppling of Assad, backed by forces supported by Ankara, Turkey has decided to re-establish its diplomatic presence in the Syrian capital.
Burhan Koroglu, who previously served as Turkey’s ambassador to Mauritania, has been appointed as the acting chargé d’affaires. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan formally assigned Koroglu to this post, emphasizing Turkey's commitment to fostering a new era of relations with Syria. The embassy is located near Rawda Square, an area known for housing numerous diplomatic missions.
The reopening of the embassy coincides with high-level talks in Jordan, where diplomats from the United States, the Arab League, and Turkey gathered to discuss Syria's future. These discussions aim to assist Syria's transition following Assad's departure. UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged participants to provide humanitarian aid and ensure that state institutions do not collapse, highlighting the importance of stability in the region.
Turkey's involvement in Syria has been multifaceted. Since August 24, 2016, the Turkish Armed Forces have been directly involved in military operations in Syria, primarily targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Turkey has also supported Syrian dissidents and maintained a working relationship with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a crucial role in the offensive that led to Assad's downfall.
The fall of Assad has been met with widespread celebrations across Syria. On the "Friday of victory," Syrians took to the streets in cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Idlib, celebrating the end of nearly 14 years of war that claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions. Fireworks lit up the sky above Umayyad Square in Damascus, and people gathered in large numbers to mark the occasion.
Despite the celebrations, the challenges facing Syria remain immense. The country is grappling with the aftermath of war, sanctions, and economic instability. The European Union has announced an "air bridge" operation to deliver health supplies via neighboring Turkey, aiming to address some of the immediate humanitarian needs.
Turkey's strategic goals in Syria include the elimination of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The YPG has been a central element of U.S.-allied forces in the fight against ISIL, creating a complex dynamic in the region.
As Turkey reopens its embassy, it seeks to promote a vision of a "terror-free Syria" where minorities are not mistreated, and an inclusive government is established. The number of Syrians returning from Turkey is expected to increase as the situation stabilizes.
The international community remains engaged in Syria's future, with diplomats from the European Union, the United States, and the Arab world participating in talks aimed at ensuring a peaceful transition. The focus is on unravelling the secrets of Assad's rule, particularly the network of detention centers and suspected torture sites. The International Committee of the Red Cross has documented over 35,000 disappearances during Assad's regime, with the actual number likely much higher.
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