Erdogan: Syria-Kurdish Agreement Will ‘Serve Peace’ and Benefit All Syrians
ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism on Tuesday regarding Syria’s agreement with Kurdish forces, calling it a crucial step toward peace and security in the region. Erdogan emphasized that the successful implementation of the agreement would benefit not only Syria but also all its citizens.
During a Ramadan iftar dinner, Erdogan stated, “The full implementation of the agreement reached yesterday will serve Syria’s security and peace. The winner will be all of our Syrian brothers.”
This agreement is aimed at integrating the Kurdish-controlled regions of northeastern Syria, where the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been in control, into Syria’s national government. Erdogan’s remarks came after Syria’s newly appointed interim president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, announced the deal with Kurdish leaders, which is expected to be fully implemented by the end of the year.
The Syrian government has been pushing for the disbandment of autonomous armed groups in the country, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 after over a decade of civil conflict. The new transitional government’s primary goal is to restore full national sovereignty and control over all regions, including the Kurdish-held territories in the north.
Erdogan further stressed Turkey’s concerns about the territorial integrity of Syria, saying, “We attach great importance to preserving the territorial integrity and unitary structure of our neighbor Syria.” He added, “We see every effort to cleanse Syria of terrorism as a step in the right direction.”
The agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF is being seen as a significant step toward ending the longstanding Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria, and it comes at a time of increasing international pressure for a resolution to the Syrian conflict.
This historic development follows a recent appeal by Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, calling for his militant group to disarm and dissolve. This gesture could further bolster the peace efforts in the region, aligning with Turkey’s long-standing goals of countering terrorism and achieving stability in neighboring Syria.
The integration of Kurdish regions into Syria’s national government is expected to reshape the future of Syria, facilitating greater cooperation between Kurdish and Arab populations and, ideally, leading to lasting peace in the war-torn nation.
- Source: ARAB NEWS
