- Turkey is set to reopen its embassy in Damascus, nearly a week after President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by forces backed by Ankara.
- The move comes as Middle Eastern and Western diplomats gather in Jordan for high-level talks on Syria.
- Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the embassy is expected to be operational, with the new charge d’affaires, Burhan Koroglu, already in Syria.
Turkey’s decision to reopen its embassy in Damascus marks a significant development in the country’s diplomatic efforts, particularly after President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The embassy’s reopening is expected to facilitate diplomatic talks and cooperation between Turkey and the new Syrian government.
According to Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the embassy is expected to be operational, with the new charge d’affaires, Burhan Koroglu, already in Syria. Fidan also revealed that Ankara had urged Assad backers Russia and Iran not to intervene as the Islamist-led rebels mounted their lightning advance last week.
The reopening of the embassy coincides with high-level diplomatic talks in Jordan, where Turkish diplomats joined counterparts from the European Union, the United States, and the Arab world. UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen urged participants to provide humanitarian aid and ensure that state institutions do not collapse.
