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Turkey's Fidan calls for internationally backed 'inclusive' Syrian government

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday that Syria’s new government must be “inclusive” to all parties.

“The new government body should be inclusive of all parties,” he said, speaking at Qatar’s Doha Forum conference. “Opposition groups should be united now.”

Fidan’s comments were made hours after Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel forces. Turkey has verbally backed the rebel offensive that suddenly toppled the Syrian government.

A few days before the rebels’ capture of Damascus, Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan said: “Our hope is that this march in Syria proceeds without any accidents or troubles.”

As the rebel victory is confirmed, Fidan used his time in Doha to urge the international community to support Syrians.

“As of this morning, Syria has reached a stage where the Syrian people will shape the future of their own country,” he said. “Today, there is hope. The Syrian people cannot achieve this alone. The international community must support the Syrian people.”

“Turkey attaches great importance to the national unity, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria, and the wellbeing of the Syrian people,” he added.

Read more: Turkey's Fidan calls for internationally backed 'inclusive' Syrian government

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks to the media during the Doha Forum in Qatar on 8 December 2024 (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks to the media during the Doha Forum in Qatar on 8 December 2024 (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)