Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hasan Şeybani stated that they were pleased to host Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his accompanying delegation in the capital Damascus and said that "the partnership between the two countries is progressing rapidly and the outlines of the strategic orientation are taking shape."
At the joint press conference held with Minister Fidan in Damascus, Shaybani stated that only a few days after their meeting in Ankara in August, "the momentum of the partnership between the two countries has been demonstrated" and that the relations between Turkey and Syria "are progressing on solid foundations".
Stating that Türkiye was among the first countries to reopen the doors of its embassy in Damascus after Syria was liberated on December 8, 2024, Şeybani said that Türkiye reopened its border gates and supply lines and played a leading role in lifting the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people for many years on international platforms.
Şeybani said, "Türkiye's leadership will always remain in the national memory of Syrians. Damascus and Ankara have made progress that will leave all other bilateral relations behind." he said.
Stating that dozens of meetings were held between the two countries at the level of presidents and ministers, Şeybani stated that 40 mutual agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed, and an institutional communication network connecting 22 Syrian ministries and institutions to their counterparts in Türkiye was established.
Şeybani stated that the developments have turned into results that directly affect the lives of citizens, and cited as examples the energy agreement signed in May 2025, the delivery of electricity flow to northern Syria over the border, the sister city relationship between Aleppo and Gaziantep, and the 24-hour re-operation of land transit transportation from the Babülhava and Salame border gates.
Stating that a free zone and dry port were opened in Idlib, Şeybani said that a bilateral mining agreement was recently signed in the presence of the President.
The Syrian Minister also touched upon the contributions of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in the rehabilitation of the infrastructure and service sectors, and stated that as a result of joint efforts, more than 700 thousand Syrians have returned to their country from Türkiye since December 8, 2024.
"We are taking determined steps towards creating a single national army"
Stating that state institutions and the sovereign decision-making mechanism have been re-established, Şeybani said, "We are taking determined steps towards creating a single national army, collecting weapons in the hands of legitimate institutions and re-integrating the northeast into national integrity within the scope of a process that belongs entirely to Syria." he said.
Shaybani emphasized that as a result of his 20-month intensive work, the "Caesar Act" page of sanctions imposed by the USA in foreign policy was closed, Syria was removed from the list of countries supporting terrorism, thus regaining its natural position in Arab and international platforms.
The Syrian Minister noted that as a result of this stability, approximately 1 million 600 thousand Syrians returned to their country from abroad, and approximately 2 million internally displaced Syrians returned to their own regions.
The target in trade volume is to reach 4 billion to 10 billion dollars
Şeybani stated that the talks held today focused on the activation of the high strategic cooperation committee between the two countries.
Stating that the committee will be the institutional framework that regulates all important processes, especially energy, return, education and culture, as well as political, diplomatic, economic and security fields, Şeybani stated that the committee will operate on the basis of joint chairmanship, regular meetings and a permanent secretariat that will follow up the decisions taken.
Şeybani said that there are many files on the agenda of the committee that are ripe for joint work, and that they aim to prepare a comprehensive strategic document that brings together the fields of natural gas, electricity and grid connection in the energy sector.
In the field of trade, the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that they aim to increase the trade volume, which reached approximately 4 billion dollars last year, to 10 billion dollars, and stated that they aim to achieve this in line with the principles of production partnership, local content, employment of Syrians and establishment of joint industrial zones in border areas.
"We have prepared a comprehensive regular return program"
Stating that they have prepared a comprehensive regular return program to be managed by Syria, covering the return of Syrians in Türkiye, including accommodation, work and transportation services, Şeybani stated that the program will be carried out in accordance with the reconstruction projects in the return areas.
Stating that they are on the verge of opening the embassy in Ankara, Şeybani stated that this is an important step.
Israel's attacks
Stating that building a strategic partnership requires conscious evaluation of the regional picture, Şeybani said, "Israeli occupation forces continue to violate national sovereignty and land violations against the southern regions. Israel targets safe villages and civilians' properties. Israel's attack on Abu Zuhur Airport on August 18 has meanings beyond its direct military dimension. The attack is a destructive message targeting the reconstruction process of the Syrian state." he said.
Stating that "the effort to prevent Syria-Türkiye rapprochement reflects a clear desire to keep the region in weakness and division," Shaybani stated that Syria's attitude towards this escalation is stable and determined.
Stating that Israel should withdraw to the line before December 8, 2024 and fully adhere to the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, Shaybani said that "they stuck to the option of diplomatic struggle because they are deeply aware of the cost of wars."
Shaybani stated that "they also did this in order to frustrate any excuse that the aggressive side could use."
Thanks for Türkiye's attitude
Stating that they greatly appreciated Türkiye's attitude, Şeybani said, "Türkiye clearly condemns the attacks in question, calls for the implementation of the 1974 Agreement and resolutely supports Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Şeybani emphasized that Syria, with its full sovereignty today, draws the road map of its national policies with its free will, and stated that "it chooses its partnerships and determines the direction of its investments and development in line with its national interests."
Syrian Foreign Minister Shaybani said, "Israel's attacks on Syrian lands and institutions do not affect Syria-Türkiye relations. The relations between the two countries are in their best period." he said.
Israel continues its aggressive policy since December 8, 2024
Upon a question about Israel's attacks on Syria, Shaybani said, "Israel has continued its aggressive policy against Syrian lands, facilities, civilian and military institutions since December 8, 2024." he said.
Stating that these attacks did not weaken Syria's will to rebuild and repair what was destroyed by the war, Şeybani noted that "Syria wants to live in security, peace and stability."
Şeybani stated that Israel's attacks continue and that the attack on Abu Zuhur Airport on August 18 was one of these attacks.
Stating that there is "no legitimate, legal or other justification" for targeting Abu Zuhur Airport, Şeybani stated that the attack "consists of the implementation of a policy that does not recognize and respect the other side."
Shaybani also called on the international community to respect international law and accepted values in order to protect and support Syria.
