Turkey says ready to help Syria rebuild state institutions

Ankara will assist Damascus in rebuilding state institutions. This was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on December 22.

On that day, he met with the leader of the new Syrian administration Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus.

"I hope that the most difficult and darkest period for your country is behind you. <...> I am in Damascus to say that the Turkish people, the Turkish state and our president [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan will always be by your side. This victory belongs only to you and no one else. Turkey is ready to provide all necessary assistance in rebuilding Syria's state institutions," he said. His words were quoted by Turkish TV channel TRT Haber.

Fidan emphasized the need for security in the country, as well as the rule of law and protection of minorities. In his opinion, Syria should establish an administration that includes different religious and ethnic groups. The Turkish president has given instructions to all structures in this regard, the minister noted.

In addition, the Turkish Foreign Minister said that the international community should lift all sanctions that were previously imposed on Syria. He noted that this is necessary for the rapid reconstruction of the country and the return of a huge number of Syrian refugees to their homeland. In addition, Fidan emphasized that Kurdish groups in Syria should be dissolved as a matter of urgency. He also promised to assist Damascus in the fight against terrorism.

"We discussed the interaction between Syria and Turkey in the economic, political and social sectors. Turkey has supported Syria since the early days of the revolution, we will not forget this and we plan to build strategic relations with Ankara in the future," al-Sharaa said.

Turkey is gathering forces near the border with Syria. What the media say

Earlier, on December 18, Fidan said that Turkey may withdraw its troops from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR). At the same time, The Wall Street Journal newspaper on the same day, citing U.S. officials, reported that Ankara was concentrating its forces along the Syrian border, which could speak of Turkey's plans for a large-scale invasion of the territory where Syrian Kurds are supported by the United States.

Before that, on December 14, Turkey reopened the republic's embassy in Damascus after nearly 13 years. Turkey's diplomatic mission in Syria was terminated in March 2012 due to the sharp deterioration of bilateral relations.

On December 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after negotiations with the opposition, left the post of head of state and left the country, instructing to carry out the transfer of power peacefully.

The situation in Syria escalated as a result of a major attack by armed formations in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliation against the militants.