Fidan: Absence of Agreement Between Damascus and SDF Could Lead to Serious Clashes
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned of the possibility of serious clashes erupting in northern Syria if the integration agreement of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the institutions of the Syrian Interim Government fails to be implemented, noting the absence of any indicators of actual progress on this path.
In a televised interview on Saturday night – Sunday, Fidan said that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units must withdraw from predominantly Arab areas, considering this withdrawal a top priority, and that ignoring it could lead to a dangerous escalation.
The Turkish minister explained that he held an extensive phone call with the Syrian Interim Government’s Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Sheibani on Friday, during which they discussed the outcomes of recent meetings between Damascus and the SDF with the participation of the U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrett, adding that the talks did not result in any actual agreement regarding integration.
Fidan pointed out that Ankara was not presented with any roadmap related to dealing with PKK fighters or eliminating tunnels and missile systems inside Syrian territory, affirming that Turkey considers the removal of the party’s elements and affiliated forces from Syria a security priority.
The minister confirmed that Turkey is cooperating with the Syrian Interim Government to follow up on the implementation of the March 10 agreement concerning the unification of armed groups under a single military structure, stressing that the Syrian issue is a major national security concern for Turkey.
In a related context, Fidan revealed a forthcoming trilateral meeting between Turkey, the United States, and Syria to discuss field and political developments in the country, emphasizing that the greatest current danger in the region is Israel’s expansion inside Syrian territory.
The minister added that Turkey supports the efforts of the Syrian Interim Government in extending its authority within the country and handles the Syrian file with utmost seriousness, far from any ideological motives.
Fidan clarified that around 500,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Turkey to their country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December, pointing out that continued stability in Syria will help boost the economy and encourage the return of more refugees.
