Minister Fidan was asked directly: Why are you not removing HTŞ from the terrorist list?

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made evaluations regarding current issues in an interview with the France 24 channel, a France-based broadcasting organization.

In response to a question about the importance of a high-level US delegation meeting with the new administration in Damascus, Fidan said, "I think it is very important. Before American officials, representatives from some European countries and international organizations also visited Damascus. We see that contact is being established with the new administration in Damascus. This is an important development."

WHY HAS HTS NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM TURKEY'S TERROR LIST?

In response to the question, "Do you plan to visit Damascus and meet with the HTS leader?" Fidan stated, "Yes, I am planning to. I plan to meet with the new administration in Damascus." Answering a question about why Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has not been removed from Turkey's terror list, Fidan said, "Our listing them is related to the UN list. Of course, we comply with the UN Security Council resolutions, but there is now a different situation where the legal aspect and the practical aspect contradict each other."

Fidan noted that they have not seen HTS involved in any terrorist activities in the last 10 years, stating, "This is a matter identified not only by us but also by Western intelligence agencies."

"HTS HAS ASSISTED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS"

In response to the question, "Before you became Foreign Minister, you were the head of intelligence. I assume you have had contact with the HTS leader known as Ahmed al-Shara. Have they been helpful in the fight against terrorist groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda? Did they cooperate with you and Western officials to show that they are no longer terrorists and are cooperating against terrorist groups?" Fidan stated that HTS has had good cooperation in intelligence sharing, especially in the fight against ISIS, and that they have been very helpful.

Fidan explained that they did not disclose this to the public at that time due to the sensitivity of the issue, saying, "HTS has been cooperating with us for years in gathering intelligence on organizations linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda." When asked whether HTS has cooperated with Turkey regarding targets like the former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Fidan responded that HTS has indeed cooperated with Turkey on such targets.

"WE CANNOT FORCE SYRIANS TO RETURN"

When asked whether Syrians in Turkey will return to their country, Fidan said, "We are trying to create an environment where Syrians in Turkey and other countries can voluntarily return to their countries safely. We are working hard to create a ground where they can feel safe there, but this is not something that can be done by force. We certainly cannot force them to return."

Fidan added, "However, we believe that there may be a significant increase in returns to Syria in the coming period."

"THE EVENTS IN SYRIA CANNOT BE CHARACTERIZED AS TURKEY'S TAKEOVER"

In response to a question about claims regarding Turkey's role in the change of power in Syria by US President Donald Trump, Fidan said, "I don't think that President Trump intended to use a negative characterization when he said that. I believe he said it with the intention of praising what happened, but the events in Syria cannot be characterized as Turkey's 'takeover.' If there is a takeover, it is the Syrian people's takeover of the administration."

WHY DID IRAN AND RUSSIA WITHDRAW FROM SYRIA WITHOUT FIRING A SINGLE BULLET?

Fidan stated, "What many people find hard to believe is that Iran and Russia, who made significant investments to support (the deposed leader Bashar) Assad a few years ago, suddenly withdrew without firing a single bullet. There was a consensus, right?" In response, he said, "I wouldn't characterize this as a consensus." Fidan noted that they can see that Russian President Vladimir Putin, with years of being in power, has "transformed from a tactical manager to a good strategic thinker," adding, "He knows very well what is important, what is less important, what can be invested in, and whether something is sustainable. Therefore, I think he has made the final calculation regarding Syria and decided not to continue further."

When asked whether this could be perceived as Putin 'abandoning Assad,' Fidan replied, "I don't know if we can say 'he abandoned.' It doesn't seem so. After all, Assad is currently in Moscow."

"THE FATE OF RUSSIAN BASES IS A MATTER FOR THE SYRIAN PEOPLE"

In response to a question about whether they are in favor of Russian bases remaining in Syria, Fidan said, "This is a matter for the Syrian people to decide. It is a matter dependent on the Syrian people. If they reach an agreement, that is their decision, so we will see, but as far as we can see right now, the Russians are in the process of redeploying their troops. At the end of this process, we do not know how many of them will continue to stay at the bases in Syria."

"The phrase 'fighting ISIS' is always used as an excuse."

When asked, "Did you know that the US presence in Syria is twice what is known?" Fidan expressed that they have noticed an increase in their numbers in recent weeks.

Fidan pointed out that the US has increased its military presence in Syria under the pretext of "fighting ISIS," stating, "'Fighting ISIS' is always used as an excuse. Some things need to be defined correctly. The situation they call 'fighting ISIS' is actually just one thing: Keeping ISIS prisoners in prison. That's all. Unfortunately, our American friends and some of our European friends are using another terrorist organization to keep terrorists in prison."

Fidan emphasized that this is not a correct decision, stating that they need to reach a mutual understanding with the US on issues such as how to keep ISIS prisoners where they are, the elimination of PKK/YPG, and how to ensure the fundamental rights and security of Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen.

"YPG/PKK knows very well what we want."

In response to the question of whether Turkey will conduct a military operation against PKK/YPG in northeastern Syria, Fidan stated, "YPG is an organized terrorist organization artificially created from people coming from Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and some from Europe. I believe this artificial terrorist organization should be dismantled immediately. There is a new administration in Syria right now. I think they should handle this. The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria necessitate this. It needs to be done."

Fidan noted that addressing this issue by the new administration in Syria is "one of the paths they will choose," stating, "This is the preferred path, but if that does not happen, then we certainly must protect our national security."

"So, is the possibility of military intervention on the table?" In response to this question, Fidan said, "Whatever is necessary will be done."

Fidan noted that the PKK/YPG needs to negotiate with Damascus to find a solution, stating, "Because there is now a new administration in Damascus. Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime are no longer behind the YPG/PKK."

Fidan pointed out that Russia, Iran, and Assad provided a ground for the YPG to operate, and that the U.S. and some European countries also supported the YPG on that ground, saying, "But now that ground has disappeared. There is a new reality in Damascus. I hope the new administration in Damascus will address these issues."

Minister Fidan stated, "On the other hand, the YPG/PKK knows very well what we want. We do not want to see any threats against our country. We do not want existing threats or potential threats."

"(Ceasefire in Gaza) All the relevant actors I have spoken to are more optimistic, and we are more optimistic too."

In response to the question of whether a ceasefire in Gaza in the near term is realistic, Fidan noted:

"All the relevant actors I have spoken to these days are more optimistic, and we are more optimistic too, but I am not sure whether this is based on a wish or a reality. It is somewhat true that Israel and Hamas are getting closer to a solution, but how close are they? Are they close enough to really bridge the gap? Will they be able to achieve a ceasefire this time? We will all see soon."

In response to the question of whether Hamas is also getting closer to this, Fidan said that Hamas is indeed getting closer.

When asked, "Are you worried about a war breaking out between Israel and Iran?" Minister Fidan replied, "Very much."

When asked about the reason for this, Fidan expressed that, for whatever reason, such a thing could happen and that there is a possibility of it.

Fidan stated, "The only thing I know is that the Iranians do not want such a war. They do not want a major conflict. You know, we are in talks with our Iranian friends. The information I have received directly from them in those discussions is in this direction."