Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan said that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed without hesitation to the Arab expectations for his administration while confirming that there are external parties seeking to fuel sectarian and ethnic divisions in Syria to destabilise the country.
Arab Expectations
In a televised interview with Iraq's "UTV" channel, Fidan said Jordan, Türkiye, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Egypt met to discuss their expectations for the new administration in Syria and communicated these expectations to the new Syrian administration. Fidan expressed that the expectations for the new administration include not posing a threat to neighbouring countries, avoiding any connections to terrorist groups while actively working against them, treating minorities with respect, and safeguarding the nation's independence and territorial integrity, and added, "Mr al-Sharaa answered yes without hesitation, and what we have seen and proven so far is that this administration delivers on its promises." Regarding the relationship between the Syrian administration and Iraq, Fidan said some issues exist between the two sides, dating back to the recent past. He called on al-Sharaa and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Sudani to show wisdom, overcome differences and work towards building a common future.
Coastal Incidents
During the interview, Fidan touched on the recent events on the Syrian coast. He confirmed that foreign countries are trying to destabilise Syria by fuelling divisions, noting that his country has intelligence reports showing the involvement of some countries in the incidents on the Syrian coast and that these reports are currently being analysed and evaluated. Fidan stated that those associated with the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad attempted to provoke discord on their own, asserting that there had been no provocation from state institutions or the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which led to "unwanted incidents, mutual tensions, and some massacres." Fidan stressed that his country condemns what happened on the coast and pointed out that there is sectarian tension between Alawites and Sunnis in that region due to Assad's policies, stressing that the new administration was "very aware" of this situation. Fidan emphasised the necessity for the government to maintain neutrality and pursue peace in these situations, and suggested the establishment of an investigation commission to address potential crimes.
Israeli Attacks
As for Israel's repeated attacks on Syria, Fidan said Israel is pursuing a provocative policy in Syria, stressing that this policy poses a threat to Israel itself. "Al-Sharaa's policy is not to pose a threat to any of the countries in the region, including Israel," he said. Fidan continued, "If Israel believes there is a security threat against it, it should set the parameters in a way that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," emphasising the need for Tel Aviv to act "with more responsibility." Fidan stated, "Occupation is not a policy that will bring security to Israel but will reflect negatively on it. It is a policy that will further destabilise Syria."