11.06.2026 23:01
Following the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria and the establishment of a new government under President Ahmed al-Shara, a historic step was taken in diplomatic relations with Turkey. The Syrian Arab Republic Consulate General in Gaziantep, which was closed in 2011 due to the civil war, was reopened after 15 years in an official ceremony attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Hacı Ali Özel.
Following the regime change in Syria, diplomatic relations on the Ankara-Damascus line are normalizing at full speed. The Gaziantep Syrian Arab Republic Consulate General, which closed its doors in 2011 due to the civil war, was reopened after a 15-year hiatus with the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Haci Ali Ozel.
IT WAS CLOSED IN 2011
Another historic threshold has been crossed in Turkey-Syria relations. The Gaziantep Syrian Consulate General, which operated between 2005 and 2011 but was closed with the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, has been reopened with an official ceremony. At the opening, the strategic messages of the new administration in Damascus regarding the region and the emphasis on cooperation with Turkey came to the forefront.
AL-SHAIBANI: THE NEW SYRIAN STATE IS READY FOR ITS CITIZENS
Speaking at the ceremony, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani emphasized that Gaziantep is a noble city that embraced the Syrian people in their most difficult days. Describing the opening of the Consulate General as "the return of a homeland rising again with honor," al-Shaibani said:
"The opening of this institution today is a concrete reflection of the new Syrian diplomacy shaped by the direct guidance of President Ahmed al-Shara. I address our Syrian brothers living in Turkey: Your state is with you. Our message is clear; The new Syrian state is always ready for its citizens. We are continuing our work unabated in other centers, especially Ankara."
Minister al-Shaibani stated that the selection of Gaziantep as the consulate center is a natural response to the presence of approximately 1.5 million Syrians living in southern Turkey, and announced that the building, equipped with modern technology, has the capacity to handle more than a thousand transactions daily.
OZEL: STEPS WERE TAKEN FOLLOWING THE OVERTHROW OF THE ASSAD REGIME
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Haci Ali Ozel expressed his satisfaction with the rapid development of relations following the change of government in Syria. Reminding that Turkey immediately activated its Embassy in Damascus and Consulate General in Aleppo, Ozel stated:
"Immediately after the overthrow of the cruel Assad regime in Syria, Turkey also immediately activated its diplomatic representation network. The steps taken by the Syrian Government under the leadership of President Mr. al-Shara, both to regain its deserved place in the international community and to advance brotherly relations with Turkey, are commendable. We believe that our Syrian brothers in Gaziantep will play an important role in the reconstruction and development of their country."
Following the ceremony, best wishes were conveyed to Ali Jamal el-Din Mustafa, who was appointed as Syria's Consul General in Gaziantep, and the consulate building was officially opened after 15 years with a ribbon cutting.