(ConserativeSense.com) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced he will invite Syrian leader Bashar Assad to Ankara. Analysts say the move aims to heal wounds and improve relationships between the two nations, accelerated by Turkey’s support for rebel groups in the bloody Syrian civil war. During an interview with Turkish media, Mr. Erdogan did not specify when Assad would receive an invite but emphasized his intention to repair relations.
Turkey’s President hinted, however, that Assad must also play his part and approach Ankara to normalize the neighbors’ association.
Mr. Erdogan appears to want to expand his international influence. He recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and offered his help to end the conflict with Ukraine. During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan, Erdogan proposed to broker peace talks between the warring nations, but Putin refused. However, the Russian said he may participate in a proposed “peace platform” in Turkey.
The leaders also discussed regional issues during the one-hour meeting, and Erdogan later described the Russian President as a “dear friend.” Nonetheless, relations between the countries are at a low ebb, with trade declining. During their discussion, Erdogan and Putin agreed to reverse this and increase bilateral trade to $100 billion annually.
Syrians in Turkey are reportedly concerned about Erdogan’s proposals to improve relations with Assad, with many stating they are worried about deportation. Samir Alabdullah of the Harmoon Centre for Contemporary Studies said, “There are also those who fear they will be stripped of their Turkish citizenship.”
Human rights groups have expressed similar concerns and claimed that millions of refugees are increasingly unsafe in Turkey. In early July, Turkey closed its border with Syria amid growing anti-immigrant violence. Syrian-owned businesses were targeted and vandalized after rumors on social media claimed a Syrian man had sexually abused a young Turkish girl. Subsequent disorder affected several regions, including Istanbul, Hatay, Gaziantep, Konya, and Bursa.
Ties between Syria and Turkey were formally severed in 2011 when Erdogan backed anti-Assad rebels.
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