President Erdoğan intends to visit Syria soon, Turkish ambassador to Syria says
Turkish Ambassador to Syria Burhan Koroglu has revealed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan intends to visit Syria for the first time since the overthrow of the previous regime last December.
In statements on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, reported by Arab media outlets citing the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Ambassador Koroglu confirmed that “the visit will be paid in the near future.”
President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shibani, along with heads of state and government, foreign ministers, and representatives of international organizations, participated in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum 2025, which began yesterday in Turkey under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World.”
During the forum, President Al-Sharaa met President Erdoğan and several leaders.
Last February, President Al-Sharaa visited the Turkish capital, Ankara, where he met the Turkish president.
The Turkish ambassador to Syria said in his statements yesterday that Ankara is coordinating with Moscow regarding Syria, and that meetings are held regularly between delegations from the two countries.
In further statements to the Russian TRT channel, Ambassador Koroglu said that Ankara was the first to open an embassy in Damascus after the new leadership took office.
He added, “Since then, we have supported this process of rebuilding the state and all Syrian institutions.”
He emphasized that the relationship is built on trust between the two neighboring countries, and that, within the framework of close cooperation, the Syrian president was invited to participate in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.
Commenting on the “technical” talks Turkey is holding with Israel in Azerbaijan regarding deconfliction in Syria, Koroglu considered Israeli attacks on Syrian territory unacceptable, as Damascus does not pose a threat to it.
He said, “We feel obligated to support Syria, even in the area of self-defense, and there have been some understandings in this regard. Israel is an aggressor state throughout the region.”
Basma Qaddour