TÜRKİYE’S APPROACH TO THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA
The events that erupted in Syria in March 2011 have transformed into a major conflict, closely affected regional security and stability, particularly in Syria.
The conflict in Syria with which we have a land border of 911 km has claimed the lives of a high number of innocent people, caused millions of Syrians to be displaced to various regions within their country or to other countries including Türkiye. This situation also made Türkiye to face serious political, security and humanitarian challenges and responsibilities.
The basic principles of Türkiye’s policy with regard to the developments in Syria have been the preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of Syria, ending the bloodshed, the peaceful conclusion of the political transition process that would address the legitimate demands of the Syrian people and ensuring security by clearing the border region from terrorist elements.
FIGHTING AGAINST TERRORISM EMANATING FROM SYRIA
The regime’s policies that led Syria to an ever-deepening crisis have triggered regional instability and have added a new dimension to regional threats. As a result, DEASH and other extremist groups found fertile ground in the region. The menace posed by DEASH to regional and international peace and security required effective global counter measures, leading to the creation of the Global Coalition Against DEASH.
Fighting against DEASH is a national security threat for Türkiye. As an active member of the Global Coalition since its inception, Türkiye has contributed to its Operation “Inherent Resolve”.
Türkiye also continues to fight against YPG, the extension of the PKK terrorist organization in Syria. In this regard, carried out three important counter terrorism operations on the Syrian territories neighbouring its border on the basis of international law, in accordance with its right to self-defence as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on counter terrorism. In addition, two extensive air operations were carried out.
a) Operation Euphrates Shield
In order to eradicate DEASH presence from the area bordering Syria, Türkiye launched "Operation Euphrates Shield" (OES) on 24 August 2016.
The Free Syrian Army, supported by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), have cleared an area of 2,015 km2 from terrorists and neutralized 2,647 DEASH fighters.
As a result of the success of the OES, DEASH started to lose ground and lost its territorial control in Syria by the end of March 2019 due to subsequent operations conducted by the Global Coalition.
b) Operation Olive Branch
The threat posed by the PKK/PYD/YPG and DEASH terrorist elements located in Afrin in the northwest of Syria to the lives and properties of the local population as well as to our citizens living in the bordering Turkish provinces escalated due to harassment fires and attacks.
The culmination of DEASH elements coming from other parts of Syria in Afrin and the risk of their possible attacks to Türkiye as well as their infiltration into Europe also came forward.
Against this backdrop, the TAF and the Free Syrian Army of Syrian Interim government (SIG), launched Operation Olive Branch (OOB) on 20 January 2018.
The objectives of the OOB were to ensure our border security, to neutralize all terrorists in Afrin and to liberate the local population from the oppression and tyranny of terrorists.
Afrin was liberated as of 18 March 2018. In less than two months, an area of approximately 2,000 km² was cleared from PKK/PYD/YPG and DEASH elements. Approximately 4,600 terrorists have been neutralized since the start of the operation.
c) Operation Peace Spring
In the view of the PKK/PYD/YPG threat to our national security, Türkiye held talks with the U.S. on the option of establishment of a safe zone in the Syrian territories neighbouring Turkish border between February to September 2019.
During the talks with the U.S., Türkiye conveyed its fundamental expectations at every level regarding the safe zone for effectively addressing its national security concerns; also reminded its right to self-defence kept preserved in the face of terror threat emanating from Syria and our determination to wipe out PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist elements. Türkiye repeatedly stressed that combating DEASH cannot be carried out by engaging with another terrorist organization, PKK/PYD/YPG.
A preliminary understanding on the safe zone was reached during the talks between the military authorities of the two countries on 5-7 August 2019. Subsequently, a Turkish-U.S. Joint Operations Center commenced its activities on 12 August 2019, followed by joint air reconnaissance missions and ground patrols. However, the commitments undertaken by the U.S. have not been fulfilled.
In light of the ongoing PKK/PYD/YPG attacks and the inability of the U.S. to effectively address our legitimate security concerns, the TAF and the Syrian National Army of SIG launched "Operation Peace Spring" (OPS) on 9 October 2019.
The objectives of the OPS were to eliminate the terror threat to our national security, contribute to the preservation of Syria's territorial integrity and unity, liberate the local population from the oppression and tyranny of the terrorists and lay the ground for the dignified, safe and voluntary returns of displaced Syrians.
The legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, the National Coalition and the Interim Government, along with tribal leaders as well as representatives of minorities including the Christian communities expressed support to the operation.
With the commencement of the OPS, baseless allegations were directed against Türkiye. These include that the OPS would lead to a humanitarian crisis, weaken the fight against DEASH, disrupt the political process and change the demographic structure on the east of Euphrates. In response to those allegations which were made up to discredit Türkiye’s efforts to combat terrorism, we emphasized that the OPS will paved the way for the return of Syrians displaced by PKK/PYD/YPG, disrupted the separatist agenda of PKK/PYD/YPG and thus contributed to the advancement of the political process.
The U.S. accepted the legitimacy of the OPS and the new status-quo on the ground with the Joint Statement made on 17 October 2019 during the visit of (former) Vice President Mike Pence to Ankara. A Memorandum of Understanding was concluded with the Russian Federation on the removal of terrorist elements from the Syrian territories neighbouring the Turkish border and from Manbij and Tal Rifat, as a result of the meeting between President Erdoğan and President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on 22 October 2019. The Russian Federation has also acknowledged our legitimate security concerns, the legitimacy of the OPS conducted to address them and the established status-quo on the ground.
Türkiye has been conveying to the U.S. and the Russian Federation that it reserves the right to self-defence against threats and attacks by terrorist elements.
d) Operation Winter Eagle
The Winter Eagle Air Operation was carried out on February 1, 2022 in order to neutralize the PKK/PYD/YPG and other terrorist elements, to eliminate the terrorist attacks against our people and security forces emanating from the north of Syria and to secure our borders.
e) Claw Sword Operation
On 19-20 November 2022, Operation Claw-Sword was carried out in northern Iraq and northern Syria to eliminate the PKK/PYD/YPG’s attacks against our country.
EFFORTS TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT
Actively involved in all international initiatives to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, Türkiye is exerting every effort to accelerate the political process in order to prevent further escalation and the spread of violence to the neighbouring countries. Türkiye prepared the ground for the Vienna talks and participated in the meetings organized with the participation of the International Syria Support Group member states and like-minded countries to find a solution to the crisis.
Geneva Process
On 18 December 2015, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution that for the first time envisaged a timetable for the political process. Within the framework of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254 based on the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 defining the framework of political transition in Syria, the gathering of opposition and regime representatives in Geneva under the auspices of the UN has been envisioned. The agenda of this "Geneva Process" was determined in accordance with the roadmap set out in the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254: (i) Transitional governing body, (ii) Constitution, (iii) Elections and (iv) Counter Terrorism.
However, as the regime continued its intense attacks and refused to discuss political transition, the Geneva talks ceased after the ninth round on 25-26 January 2018.
Astana Platform
Eastern Aleppo, which was besieged by the regime in July 2016, was completely subjugated in December 2016 as a result of continuous attacks. Ceasefire was established in Aleppo as a result of intense talks between Türkiye and the RF, which allowed the safe evacuation of 45,000 civilians in December 2016. As a result of the agreement signed by Türkiye and the RF on 30 December 2016, the ceasefire in Aleppo was extended to the whole country.
In order to preserve the ceasefire regime and to ensure the adoption of confidence building measures between the conflicting parties, High Level Meetings are regularly being organized at capital of Kazakhstan, Astana since January 2017 with the participation of Türkiye, the RF as well as Iran. Leaders and Foreign Ministers of Astana guarantor countries also meet regularly.
The Astana platform, which plays a significant role in the establishment of de-escalation areas, the launch of the Constitutional Committee and the adoption of confidence building measures between the Syrian parties, remains the only international initiative that made a concrete contribution to end the conflict in Syria.
IDLIB DE-ESCALATION AREA
Idlib, one of the four de-escalation areas designated at the 4th Astana Meeting held on 4-5 May 2017, remains as the last one after the regime took control of Eastern Ghouta, Northern Homs and Daraa-Qunaitra in 2018.
President Erdoğan and the President of the RF met in Sochi on 17 September 2018 to discuss the situation in the Idlib De-Escalation Area. As a result, the "Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area" was signed between two countries. Iran, the third Astana guarantor, later announced its support to the Memorandum. Maintaining compliance with the Memorandum is important to prevent escalation on the ground, a wave of irregular migration and humanitarian crisis as well as for the sustainability of the political process.
After the deliberate targeting of our military personnel on 27 February 2020, Türkiye launched "Operation Spring Shield" on the basis of the right of self-defence in order to ensure a ceasefire, end the humanitarian tragedy in the region by protecting civilians, to prevent another wave of immigration to our country and ensure the security of our troops, people and borders.
During the visit of our President to Moscow on March 5, 2020, the “Additional Protocol to the Memorandum on the Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-Escalation Area (September 17, 2018)” was signed. In order to make the ceasefire established with the Protocol lasting, to find a comprehensive solution to the situation in Idlib and to end the ongoing attacks, efforts continue to be carried out.
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE
At the Syrian National Dialogue Congress held on 30 January 2018 in Sochi/RF with the joint efforts of the Astana guarantors, a call was made to establish a “Constitutional Committee" consisting of 150 members.
The Secretary-General of the UN announced the establishment of the Committee on 23 September 2019, after agreement was reached on its members and rules of procedure. The inaugural session of the Committee was held on 30 October 2019 in Geneva with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of three countries.
Türkiye continues to support the work of Constitutional Committee, a milestone in accelerating the political process, in order to pave the way for a genuine and comprehensive political change that will address the root causes of the conflict in Syria.
Türkiye wants to see that this process would result in the peaceful establishment of a free and democratic system in line with the legitimate aspirations and expectations of the Syrian people, where all Syrians' fundamental rights and freedoms without any ethnic, religious and sectarian discrimination are under constitutional guarantee on the basis of equality.
The Constitutional Committee held 8 rounds of meetings so far, the last one was on 30 May-3 June 2022 in Geneva. Due to the intransigence of the regime in the talks, no concrete progress has been achieved yet.
SYRIAN OPPOSITION
Türkiye also supported the efforts for the emergence of an effective and inclusive Syrian opposition, which will take responsibility on the transition process in line with the legitimate demands of the people.
Within this framework, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was designated as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people at the meeting of the Friends of the Syria Group held in Marrakech in December 2012. The National Coalition is based in Istanbul. Türkiye also lent support to the Riyadh Meeting of 8-10 December 2015, in which the Syrian Negotiation Commission (the then called High Negotiations Committee) was established.
Türkiye’s engagement with the Syrian opposition groups are carried out without any political, ethnic, religious or sectarian interests and without any discrimination. The Syrian people will determine the solution to the conflict and the future of Syria. Türkiye continues to support the Syrian people in this process.
Syrian Turkmens have a special position within the context of Türkiye’s support to the Syrian people. Being one of the principal founders of Syria and at the forefront of resistance against oppression, Turkmens will continue to enjoy Türkiye’s political support in order to have their rightful place in the future of Syria.