Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will not accept the establishment of any separatist entity that threatens its security along the southern border, and it will not allow its interests to be harmed.
Speaking during a parliamentary bloc meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara today, Wednesday 21 January, Erdogan said Turkey “has defended from the beginning the existence of a Syrian state that preserves its territory and political unity,” adding that Ankara does not covet anyone’s land and supports Syria’s unity.
Erdogan welcomed the agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stressing that resorting to provocations in Syria at the current stage would amount to “suicide.”
He also said that “the terrorist organization is one thing and the Kurds are another,” adding that no one, “here or there,” can mortgage their will, according to his remarks.
Erdogan added that Turks, Kurds, and Arabs will unite and solve the region’s problems together, as they have throughout history, saying their only shared umbrella is “Islamic brotherhood.”
He said, “As long as the Republic of Turkey exists and is strong, there is no need for anyone to look for protectors or pursue other friends and partners.”
Erdogan noted that he held what he described as a “fruitful” phone call on Tuesday with US President Donald Trump, during which they discussed several issues that would “contribute to Syria’s security,” including joint efforts to fight the Islamic State group.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler also held a phone call with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, during which they discussed developments in Syria and bilateral relations between the two countries.
Anadolu Agency reported that the call between Guler and Hegseth addressed bilateral ties and regional defense and security issues, with developments in Syria topping the agenda.
Understanding between the government and the SDF
The Turkish president’s remarks came after the Syrian Presidency announced it had reached a new understanding with the SDF over the future of al-Hasakah Governorate (northeastern Syria) on Tuesday, 20 January.
According to the statement published by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the understanding granted the SDF a four-day deadline to consult in order to develop a detailed plan for how to practically integrate the areas.
If an agreement is reached, government forces will not enter the centers of al-Hasakah and Qamishli, remaining on their outskirts. They also will not enter villages with a Kurdish majority, except for local security forces drawn from the area’s residents, according to the statement.
The Presidency said SDF commander Mazloum Abdi will propose a candidate for deputy defense minister, in addition to putting forward a candidate for al-Hasakah governor, names for representation in the People’s Assembly, and a list of individuals to be hired within Syrian state institutions.
It said the two sides agreed to merge all SDF military and security forces into the Syrian Ministries of Defense and Interior, while discussions continue over the detailed integration mechanism. Civil institutions will also be integrated into the Syrian government structure.
The Presidency pledged to implement Decree No. 13 related to linguistic and cultural rights and Kurdish citizenship rights, reflecting what it described as “a shared commitment to building a unified and strong Syria based on national partnership and guaranteeing rights for all its components.”
In return, the SDF announced its commitment to a ceasefire, saying it will not initiate any military action, provided its forces are not subjected to future attacks.
In a statement issued after the government’s announcement, the SDF said it is open to political tracks, negotiated solutions, and dialogue, adding that it is ready to move forward with implementing the 18 January agreement in a way that serves de-escalation and stability, as it put it.
Despite the understanding, areas in eastern Syria continue to witness security incidents amid mutual accusations between the two sides. These include the killing of Syrian army personnel in an explosion at an SDF ammunition depot in the al-Yaarubiyah area, according to an Enab Baladi correspondent.
The government accused the SDF of rigging the depot with explosives before withdrawing from the area, warning civilians not to approach all places previously occupied by the SDF.
The correspondent added that western al-Hasakah countryside saw SDF positions on Mount Abdulaziz struck by drone attacks, alongside mutual artillery shelling on the Zarkan front (Abu Rasin) in the northern al-Hasakah countryside.
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