The full interview has been published: Assad’s harsh words to Erdogan
Bashar al-Assad, the leader of Syria, who has been in the civil war for years, is known as someone who rarely gives interviews and appears before the public, he spoke to Sky News Arabia the day before.
While a short section of the interview of Assad, who made remarks in Damascus, was broadcast the day before, Assad said he would not hold a bilateral meeting in accordance with President Erdogan’s demands and stressed that he did not like Erdogan’s conditions.
Assad’s statements, who rarely gave interviews, became the agenda of the international public.
The full interview was published last night. In the interview, Assad, 57, used very harsh expressions. In his first television interview after Damascus rejoined the Arab League in May, Assad stressed that Turkish soldiers would not hold a meeting until they left northwestern Syria.
“WHY KNOW”
Although some steps have been taken in the name of normalization between Ankara and Damascus in the recent period, Assad stated that he did not expect to meet President Erdogan.
Assad said: “Our goal is for Turkey to withdraw from Syrian territory, but Erdogan’s goal, in response, is to try to legitimize Turkey’s presence in Syria. Therefore, a meeting cannot take place under Erdogan’s terms. Why should I meet Erdogan? For a drink?” he said.