Özel listed three suggestions for President Erdoğan regarding Syria.

The opposition groups in Syria seized the capital, Damascus, within 12 days with a lightning operation, overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad. Assad, who fled the country with his family, sought refuge in Russia.

"IT WAS CLEAR THE REGIME WOULD COLLAPSE"

While the whole world was following the developments in the region, a notable assessment also came from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. Özel stated, "Assad failed to implement reforms, did not bring democracy to his country, and collapsed. It was clear that the regime would eventually collapse. Turkey cannot allow a terrorist state or mini-states at its borders," he said.

Continuing his remarks, Özel offered advice to President Erdoğan;

"1. Turkey should contribute calmly and constructively to the permanent stability of Syria.

2. Turkey should establish a correct stance to ensure the safety of its soldiers there and to prevent the formation of a terrorist state or mini-states right next to us.

3. The environment for refugees in Turkey to return to their countries should be provided as soon as possible, and encouraging preparations for their return should be made."

CLARIFIED HIS CALL TO ASSAD

In a statement to Hürriyet's Hande Fırat, Özel also clarified his call for a meeting just before Assad's overthrow, saying, "Some writers do not question Erdoğan's contradiction of saying 'I will meet with Assad' after saying the harshest words to him. Erdoğan reached the point of meeting, but this time Assad did not want to meet with him. I think Assad's decision not to meet was a big mistake. The government stated until the last moment that it was trying to meet with Assad. They say the job is done, and now they say, 'Look, you were saying to meet with Assad.' I did not even go on vacation with Assad. I did not say harsh words like Erdoğan. Throughout the entire process, we consistently invited Syria to democracy," he said.