High-Level Turkish and Qatari Delegations Meet Militant Leaders in Damascus: Syrian Interim Government Report
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Damascus, Dec 13 (NationPress) Senior representatives from Turkey and Qatar have arrived in Damascus to initiate conversations with leaders of the militant coalition responsible for the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to an announcement from Syria's interim information ministry.
The Turkish delegation features Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, while Qatar is represented by Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al-Batty Al-Kaabi, the head of the State Security Service, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Both delegations are accompanied by expanded advisory teams, as stated by the ministry.
The officials are expected to meet with Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which played a crucial role in the overthrow of al-Assad. Additionally, they will engage in discussions with Mohammed al-Bashir, a former regional militant leader now acting as the interim prime minister appointed by the militant coalition.
Topics of discussion are anticipated to center on promoting internal political dialogue among the militant factions, as per the ministry's statement.
No official confirmation regarding the visit has been issued by either the Turkish or Qatari governments. Fidan previously mentioned that Ankara aims to reopen its embassy in Damascus "once conditions permit."
Turkey had closed its embassy in the Syrian capital on March 26, 2012, citing rising violence and its demand for Assad's resignation amid the Syrian civil war, which commenced in 2011.
According to Sawt al-Asima, a news outlet that supports the militant groups that overthrew the Assad government, the Syrian constitution and parliament have reportedly been suspended for three months.
The outlet disclosed this development on Thursday, referencing unnamed sources, but did not provide specifics on how the suspension would be enforced.
Earlier on Wednesday, Syria's Military Operations Administration declared the lifting of the curfew previously imposed on Damascus and its surrounding regions, urging residents to resume their daily routines and return to their workplaces.
