Turkish Foreign Minister: Israeli occupation attacks on Syria pose the greatest threat to its stability
Istanbul, Aug 6 (KUNA) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday affirmed that Israeli occupation attacks targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity constitute one of the greatest threats to its stability.
Fidan, speaking at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shibani in the capital Ankara, stated that “safeguarding Syria’s security and stability is a shared responsibility borne by all countries in the region.” He emphasized the need for the international community to adopt a stronger stance against Israel’s occupation mentality and to exert the necessary pressure on it to respect Syria’s sovereignty and comply with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
Fidan said Turkey is keen to support Syria and cooperate with it in various fields, particularly economic and security sectors, to ensure its security and stability as well as that of the region. He noted that Ankara is working to develop relations with Damascus and increase bilateral trade. He added that Turkey seeks to increase the number of border crossings between the two countries, support infrastructure development in banking and transport, and contribute to reconstruction projects. He clarified that Turkey is coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria to develop transport networks and connectivity routes among these countries.
On the security file, Fidan stressed that “the phase of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syrian state institutions must be concluded swiftly and without obstacles.” He underscored the necessity of all armed elements in Syria laying down their weapons and ending any presence outside the framework of state institutions. He pointed out that Syria has become more stable and that Turkey is working to strengthen relations with Damascus across various levels, reaffirming continued cooperation in defense and counterterrorism.
Regarding the Palestinian file, Fidan noted that US President Donald Trump had previously announced reaching an agreement on a roadmap for the second phase of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip. He observed that Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza despite consensus on the second phase of the peace plan once again demonstrated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not want peace. He added, “We see that Netanyahu’s government has intensified terrorist acts in the West Bank and also in (occupied) Jerusalem.”
For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said that Damascus and Ankara have placed joint economic and political files at the top of their priorities, highlighting discussions on reactivating economic and commercial agreements between the two countries. Al-Shibani explained that the recent step between the Syrian and Turkish central banks laid the foundation for a new phase of cooperation, affirming that stability and success in combating terrorism form the basis of the partnership between the two countries. He added that Syria is working to extend state authority over its entire territory and end any presence of arms outside the legal framework, considering a unified, terrorist- and militia-free Syria as a foundation for protecting shared borders. He noted that the region is moving toward establishing a new stability foundation based on ending armed formations outside the legal framework, affirming Damascus’s support for efforts led by Iraq and Lebanon to enhance regional security.
On the economic front, al-Shibani said his country continues to work on activating the “Four Seas Committee” and advancing the railway connectivity project linking Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. He highlighted that Syria’s geographic location makes it a crucial hub in global trade routes. He also condemned Israel’s repeated attacks on southern Syria, emphasizing continued diplomatic efforts to halt them, and rejected any aggression targeting Gulf Arab states, considering their stability an essential part of regional security.
Earlier, Turkish Intelligence Organization (MIT) Head Ibrahim Kalin held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani on cooperation and bilateral relations. The meeting covered Turkish-Syrian relations, areas of joint cooperation, relations with neighboring countries, and regional stability, as well as developments in Lebanon and Syrian-Lebanese relations. The two sides also discussed the implications of the draft law on “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration” on Syria.
The Turkish Parliament presidency received the draft law yesterday as part of the “Turkey Without Terrorism” process. The draft law aims to regulate mechanisms for postponing investigations, judicial prosecutions, and enforcement of judgments and related legal procedures, following confirmation by security institutions that the actual presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and all associated entities has ended, and that the organization has surrendered all weapons and ammunition it possessed. A decision by the Turkish National Security Council confirming these conditions will be issued and published in the Official Gazette.
The meeting between Kalin and al-Shibani focused on the progress of integrating the SDF in Syria and ways to enhance counterterrorism cooperation. (End) TA/TA
