Official: Syrian leader rejects Türkiye's offer for dialogue, reconciliation

Close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected Türkiye's extended olive branch and ignored calls for reconciliation and negotiations.

While speaking to his supporters, Bahceli emphasised the importance of starting dialogue between Bashar al-Assad and Türkiye as soon as possible, without preconditions, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

"Bashar al-Assad’s administration has not embraced Türkiye’s extended hand. However, in our view, it is not late. Engaging in dialogue with Türkiye without preconditions would primarily benefit him and his country. We sincerely hope that stability will soon return to Syria. While there is still time, Assad’s administration must understand that it will be difficult to survive in the current situation. The geography of Iraq and Syria is well known to the Turkish nation, and this nation carries this soulful and cultural geography in its heart," Bahceli said. 

He further noted that under the Sochi Agreement, the PKK/YPG/PYD were prohibited from remaining in Manbij and Tel Rifaat, but there are countries that have refused to comply with this.

"Tel Rifaat has been cleared of terrorists, and the focus is now on Manbij," Bahceli added.

On November 28, Syrian militants launched a large-scale offensive on government positions in the Aleppo province. During three days, the Syrian Armed Forces eliminated nearly 1,000 militants.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, on December 1, the Russian Aerospace Forces, in coordination with the Syrian Armed Forces, destroyed 320 militants and 63 units of military equipment in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo.

By Naila Huseynova