Turkey reopens embassy in Damascus after Assad’s fall
For the first time in 12 years, Turkey has reopened its embassy in Damascus following the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by an Islamist-led rebel coalition. This symbolic reopening marks a significant shift in Turkish-Syrian relations after more than a decade of hostility.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, saw the Turkish flag raised over the embassy building in Damascus’s Rawda district, a diplomatic zone that hosts missions from various countries. Burhan Koroglu, Turkey’s new charge d’affaires to Syria, presided over the event, which was attended by members of the rebel-led transitional government.
The reopening follows the rapid offensive launched by rebel forces on November 27, which resulted in the capture of vast swathes of Syrian territory from government control. By December 8, the rebels had seized the capital, forcing Bashar al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for over two decades, into exile.
Turkey has been a key ally of Syrian opposition forces throughout the civil war, providing financial, military, and logistical support.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that Koroglu and a team of embassy staff had departed for Damascus, with the mission becoming operational the next day.
Turkey’s embassy in Damascus had been closed since March 2012, a year into the Syrian civil war, amid rising violence and Turkey’s calls for Assad to step down. Koroglu, previously Turkey’s ambassador to Mauritania, will lead Turkey’s renewed diplomatic engagement in Syria. However, it remains unclear how long he will hold this post as relations between the two nations evolve.
Representatives of Syria’s transitional government, formed by the victorious rebel alliance, attended the ceremony and expressed gratitude for Turkey’s continued support. The transitional government has called for stability and calm as it begins the challenging task of rebuilding the war-torn nation.
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The reopening of Turkey’s embassy is expected to bolster the new Syrian leadership’s efforts to gain international recognition.
Turkey’s renewed presence in Damascus is seen as a step towards normalising relations with a post-Assad Syria. The reopening also highlights Turkey’s influential role in the region, as its support for Syrian rebels significantly contributed to Assad’s downfall.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the transitional government seeks to stabilise Syria, and Turkey’s involvement is likely to shape the nation’s political and economic recovery. This development marks a new chapter in the Middle East’s turbulent history, with hopes for a peaceful future for Syria.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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