Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that whoever prevents Syria from achieving permanent peace and stability will find Syria and Turkey against them, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday.
"I am saying it openly, whoever prevents Syria from achieving permanent peace and stability will find us as well as the Syrian government against them. Just as we did not allow Syria to be divided with the terror corridor, we will not allow this country to be divided with other corridors either," Erdogan said.
"The possibility of returning to the pre-December 8 period [before the fall of the Assad regime] in Syria has been eliminated," Erdogan continued.
"A new era began in this country with the December 8 revolution. Some actors should appreciate their friendship instead of testing the resistance of Turkey's patience on the Syria issue," Erdogan added.
Lifting of Syria sanctions
In a meeting at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday, Erdogan said that Turkey will continue its diplomatic efforts to lift international sanctions against Syria, the president's office said in a statement.
Erdogan said efforts should be increased to revitalize trade and economic cooperation with Syria and that Turkey will continue to provide support to the country.
Al-Sharaa’s visit, his second to Turkey since taking office, follows February’s historic trip—the first Syrian delegation to Ankara in 13 years.