Syria's interim FM meets with Turkish president, FM on 1st official visit

ANKARA - Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday on his first official visit to Turkiye.

The meeting between Erdogan and Al-Shaibani addressed the most recent situation in Syria and steps to be taken to preserve the country's territorial integrity, Turkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement on the social media platform X.

According to the directorate, Erdogan said that "Turkiye will support meeting the urgent needs of the brotherly Syrian people and the efforts to rebuild the country," emphasizing the importance of lifting international sanctions on Syria.

Erdogan also underscored that there is no room for terrorist organizations in Syria's future, the statement added.

In a joint press conference following the meeting with Al-Shaibani, Fidan said "the international community could support Syria to rebuild state institutions and build capacity," calling for the removal of sanctions "to facilitate the provision of basic public services and accelerate normalization".

"This will create conditions enabling millions of Syrians to return home," the Turkish minister said.