By Maggie Johnson
December 29, 2024
Image Credit: “www.yenisafak.com,” available at Yahoo Images (12/29/2024).
Turkey is working toward establishing a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria once a permanent government is in place in Damascus, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced on Tuesday.
Following the recent overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebels, Turkey has intensified its engagement with Syria's new interim administration. This outreach includes high-level meetings between Turkish officials—such as Turkey's intelligence chief and foreign minister—and Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of the transitional government.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has expressed intentions to strengthen bilateral ties with Syria across various sectors, including trade, energy, and defense. Ankara plans to negotiate a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria's new administration as part of this initiative.
Minister Uraloglu emphasized that such discussions would depend on the establishment of a recognized governing authority in Damascus. "An authority must first be established there... While it will certainly be on our agenda, it is not an immediate priority at this stage," he clarified to reporters.
A maritime demarcation agreement, if successfully negotiated, could align with international legal frameworks, enabling both nations to delineate their respective jurisdictions for oil and hydrocarbon exploration. This could potentially open up new economic opportunities and foster greater cooperation in the region, the minister added, instilling hope for the future.
Turkey's efforts to mend relations with its war-torn neighbor reflect a broader strategy to stabilize the region and pursue mutually beneficial agreements in the aftermath of Syria's 13-year civil war.
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