Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Güler
Turkey is ready to provide military assistance if the new government of Syria, led by Islamist rebels, requests it. Turkish Defence Minister Yashar Guler said this on Sunday, according to AFP and Reuters.
“We are ready to provide the necessary assistance if the new government requests it,” Güler said in an interview with Turkish media.
The minister stressed that Ankara is refraining from taking any active action so far, waiting to see how the new administration will use the power it has gained. “We believe it is necessary to give them a chance,” he said, commenting on the situation around the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which was formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and is still classified as a terrorist organisation by many Western countries.
However, the HTS has recently adopted a more moderate rhetoric. Their interim government has repeatedly stressed the protection of the rights of all Syrians, including ethnic and religious minorities.
According to Güler, the new government has declared its readiness to abide by international law and cooperate with the UN and other international organisations. He also assured that the Syrian authorities would report any signs of chemical weapons use to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
This statement by Turkey demonstrates Ankara’s desire to maintain its influence in the region and at the same time establish a new format of interaction with the authorities in Damascus.
