Syrian Dissident Leader:

Reconciliation between Erdogan, Assad Possible

Rasa - A prominent Syrian dissident leader underlined that resumption of relations between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Recep Tayyip Erdogan is possible.

News ID: 423276

Date: 06 September 2016 - 20:10

RNA - "Reconciliation between Erdogan and Assad was impossible before, but now it is possible and the only reason behind it is the Kurds issue since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had taken control of vast regions in the Western parts of the Euphrates and Turkey considers it as a serious threat to its national security, and this case also needs cooperation with Russia," Spokesman of Syria's al-Ghad group Monzar Aqbiq was quoted as saying by AKI Italian news agency on Tuesday.

He also underscored Turkey's continued support for the Syrian dissidents, saying that they are Ankara's winning card in future negotiations with Damascus.

His remarks came after Arab media outlets reported that negotiations under an Iranian mediation were held between officials from the Syrian government and Turkish figures with a possibility to reach reconciliation between Assad and Erdogan.

Asharq al-Awsat newspaper quoted sources as saying last month that they expect that Erdogan soften tone on President Assad's government in exchange for Syrian cooperation to prevent the establishment of any Kurdish entity in Northern Syria.

According to the Arab paper, the source also revealed that Ismail Hakki, one of the most leading Turkish diplomats, is the one conducting the negotiations on Ankara’s behalf. Hakki is a retired general who had supervised an agreement reached between Syria and Turkey in 1998 during the crisis with head of Kurdistan Workers’ Party Abdullah Ocalan, who was imprisoned 17 years ago in the Turkish Imrali Island.

According to Asharq al-Awsat, Hakki has held meetings with a number of Syrian officials in Damascus, including Abdullah Al-Ahmar Arabic, a Syrian politician and prominent member of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, Ali Mamlouk,  a special security adviser to President Assad, and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and his deputy Feisal Mikdad.

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