Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said he would visit Turkey on Wednesday, on the first official trip to the country since the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham-led rebels toppled former president Bashar Al Assad last month.
“We will represent the new Syria tomorrow in the first official visit to the Turkish republic, which has not abandoned the Syrian people for 14 years,” Mr Al Shibani said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Turkey cut diplomatic ties with the Assad regime in 2011 after it cracked down on anti-government protests, causing the country's civil war. Ankara backed the rebels against Mr Al Assad and has maintained working ties with HTS. Alongside Qatar, Turkey was among the first countries to re-open its embassy in Damascus after the takeover by groups led by HTS, a former Al Qaeda affiliate.
About three million Syrians fled the country to Turkey, its northern neighbour, at the start of the conflict but many still remain cautious before returning to their homes.
Turkey carried out three major cross-border military operations in Syria, in 2016, 2018 and 2019, to oust Kurdish militias that Ankara views as a national security threat along its southern border. Turkish troops have also carried out patrols to maintain de-escalation zones brokered between Ankara and Assad allies Iran and Russia in northern Syria in 2017, and a ceasefire between them that came into force three years later.
Both the HTS-led government in Damascus Turkish-backed Syrian fighters oppose Kurdish militias maintaining territorial control of north-eastern Syria, where they expanded rapidly during and after operations against Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. Operations in these areas are likely to top the agenda of Mr Al Shibani's visit.
Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was “reviewing and rethinking” its military and civilian presence in Syria. “We have to reconsider and rethink the modality of our presence there. This is being done right now. Parallel to the steps taken by the new government, Turkey is also reviewing its relations with Syria – the framework, nature and content of its relations,” Mr Fidan said in response to a question from The National at a press briefing in Istanbul.
Countries in the region and beyond have reached out to the new Syrian administration led by HTS chief Ahmad Al Shara since the rebel group took power last month.
Mr Al Shibani has already visited Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan since the start of the month. The foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany have visited Damascus as Western nations re-establish ties with Syria.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
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2 stars
