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Bouthaina Shaaban exposes Erdogan's agenda: Rapprochement with Syria is a media trick
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Turkey's attempts to normalize relations with the Syrian regime seem aimed at achieving domestic and regional political gains, ignoring the rights of the Syrian people, especially the Kurds in norther
In a direct response to Turkey's efforts to normalize relations with the Syrian regime, Bouthaina Shaaban, special advisor to Bashar al-Assad, made sharp statements revealing Damascus's categorical rejection of Turkish maneuvers. This response came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country is waiting for a response from Damascus regarding rapprochement.
During a lecture at the Omani Foreign Ministry, Shaaban exposed Ankara's hidden agenda, considering that Turkey is exploiting the issue of normalization with the Syrian regime to achieve special political goals. She reaffirmed that any rapprochement with Ankara is contingent on the withdrawal of its occupying forces from Syrian territories.
Shaaban revealed that Erdogan's previous statements about his desire to rapprochement with Damascus, which preceded the Turkish presidential elections, were merely a political maneuver for purely "electoral purposes."
She added sharply: "There is nothing the Turks want to offer. They want to maintain what they are doing on the ground, occupy our land and spread corruption in it, strike the Kurds, and expect us to be friends with them. This is not acceptable."
Shaaban directed direct accusations at Turkey, saying it "occupies part of northwestern Syria and is carrying out dangerous and malicious Turkification operations." She pointed out that Bashar al-Assad had previously demanded Turkey "acknowledge the principle of withdrawal," emphasizing that the regime will not sit at the negotiating table unless Ankara acknowledges this principle.
It's worth noting that the Turkish occupation of areas in northern Syria, including Afrin, has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of original inhabitants, especially Kurds, since March 2018. Turkey and its allied armed factions continue to commit grave violations against civilians, amid suspicious international silence.
Meanwhile, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) played a pivotal role in defeating the terrorist organization ISIS, with support from the international coalition. However, these efforts are being continuously undermined by Turkish attacks and pro-Turkish factions, threatening the re-emergence of terrorist groups in the region.
The Syrian regime's insistence on the necessity of Turkish forces' withdrawal from Syrian territories as a fundamental condition for any talks hinders Ankara's rapprochement efforts. Turkey seeks to achieve domestic and regional gains through these political maneuvers, ignoring the rights of the Syrian people, especially the Kurds in northern Syria.
In light of these developments, the fate of the occupied areas in northern Syria, especially Afrin, remains uncertain. Observers stress the need for the international community to move urgently to put an end to Turkish violations and ensure the return of displaced Kurds to their homes, protecting their legitimate rights within the framework of a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis.
Levant-Agencies
