10.12.2024 15:01
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan responded to the question of whether the embassy in Damascus, which ceased operations on March 26, 2012, would be reopened by saying, "We have initiated work, and we will look at the conditions."
On November 27, Wednesday, armed opposition groups launched an operation against the Bashar al-Assad regime, capturing many cities one by one without even entering a single conflict, while also collapsing the 61-year-old Ba'ath regime.
CRITICAL QUESTION TO MINISTER FIDAN
As this development resonated widely in the global public opinion, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was asked during a broadcast, "Will the Damascus Embassy be reopened?"
"WE WILL LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS"
Minister Fidan stated that they have initiated work for the reopening of the embassy, which ceased operations on March 26, 2012, saying, "We will look at the conditions."
IT HAD CEASED OPERATIONS IN 2012
The Turkish Embassy, located near the Ravda Square where diplomatic missions are concentrated in Damascus, continued to operate for a while during the process when the regime resorted to violence against peaceful protesters, but ceased operations on March 26, 2012. Embassy staff and their families also returned to Turkey with this decision.
REGIME SUPPORTERS HAD ATTACKED
While Turkey's diplomatic efforts for the Bashar al-Assad regime to meet the demands of the people were ignored by the regime, on November 14, 2011, regime-supporting groups attacked the Turkish Embassy, the Consulate General in Aleppo, and the Honorary Consulate of Turkey in Latakia. The groups attempted to enter Turkish diplomatic missions, broke the windows of the buildings, and burned the Turkish flag. No damage was observed on the outside of the Embassy building, which was filmed from outside in the now-overthrown Damascus.