Yesterday, Tuesday, the United States called on the countries of the world to refrain from normalizing their relations with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, commenting on the recent Turkish rapprochement with this regime under Russian auspices. Ankara also renewed its promises to the Syrian opposition not to let it down.
"We do not support countries that strengthen their relations or express their support for the rehabilitation of Bashar al-Assad, the brutal dictator," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
Price called on the countries of the world to carefully study the "appalling" human rights record of the Assad regime over the past 12 years, at a time when it continues to commit atrocities against the Syrian people and prevents life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching those in need in areas outside the control of its forces, according to him.
This comes after Moscow witnessed last Wednesday a meeting that brought together the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Russia, Turkey and the Syrian regime, which is the first official meeting to be held at a ministerial level between Ankara and the Assad regime since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
'We did not let the opposition down'
On the other hand, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that the recent meeting in Moscow was the first and other meetings will follow, explaining that his country's position is to continue the constitutional path and political negotiations in light of the relevant United Nations resolution.
He added that Turkey's main concerns regarding Syria are the continuation of the war, terrorist threats and the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis, and that his country is keen to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees within the framework of United Nations standards.
Kalin considered that reaching positive results is related to the steps that the Syrian regime will take, its intentions and perspective from now on, and if this regime responds to Turkey's "good intentions", steps can be taken with regard to combating terrorism and the return of refugees through coordination with Moscow.
He also affirmed Turkey's support for the Syrian opposition since the beginning of the crisis until now, and that it "has never let it down," noting that Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met on Tuesday with opposition leaders to reassure them again.
Cavusoglu had met yesterday in Ankara with the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Salem Al-Muslat, in the presence of the head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, Badr Jamous, and the head of the Syrian interim government, Abdul Rahman Mustafa.
According to the media department of the Syrian National Coalition, the two sides discussed developments in the Syrian file, and Al-Muslat confirmed that Turkey is a strong ally of the Syrian revolution and opposition forces, and a great supporter of the Syrians' aspirations to achieve freedom, dignity and democracy.
Al-Muslat emphasized that "the Syrian revolution and opposition forces are concerned and keen to activate the political process, which they always demand, in order to end the suffering of the Syrian people by reaching a complete political transition that establishes a new phase in Syria based on justice and equality, and restores security and stability to Syria." and countries of the region.
The head of the Syrian National Coalition held the Assad regime "fully responsible" for what happened and is happening in the country, and stressed "adherence to the demands of the Syrian people and the principles of the Syrian revolution."