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Türkiye's ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yilmaz, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes to visit Syria before the end of this year, though the exact date has not yet been set.
"There are currently very few things in the world that would make President Erdogan happier than praying at the Umayyad Mosque; he is in love with Damascus," Yilmaz said.
Speaking in an interview with the outlet Syria, Now, published Friday, the Turkish envoy said President Erdogan had been planning to visit Damascus around April 21 but that "the outbreak of war and the closure of the airspace, unfortunately," prevented the trip.
He said the date had not been finalized in Ankara but was under discussion, and that after developments on the ground, "the visit that was planned, or that was being considered, did not take place."
Yilmaz said the visit "will certainly take place." However, he noted that setting the exact date is not within his authority, saying the Turkish presidency would likely announce it once planning is finalized.
He expressed hope the visit would take place "before the end of this year."
"We will all see a photo bringing together His Excellency the President and President (Ahmad al-
Sharaa), walking side by side, hand in hand, showing the world just how strong the strategic relations between the two countries are," Yilmaz said.
Yilmaz said the Turkish president is eager to visit Damascus and pray at the Umayyad Mosque, describing him as "in love with Damascus." He said President Erdogan looks forward to "meeting the people of Damascus, its population, its state and its culture."
Türkiye was among the first countries to move diplomatically toward Damascus following the fall of Bashar Assad's government on Dec. 8, 2024, with high-level official visits following in quick succession between the two countries.
Days after Assad's fall, on Dec. 12, 2024, Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief, Ibrahim Kalin, traveled to the Syrian capital, followed by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Dec. 22, making him the first foreign minister to visit Damascus in the post-Assad period.
The diplomatic track saw reciprocal visits in 2025.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Ankara on Jan. 15, followed by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's visit to the Turkish capital Ankara on Feb. 4, where he met President Erdogan.
Official visits have continued regularly since.
In the same interview, Yilmaz said Türkiye stands with Damascus in fully dismantling the SDF as a separate force, affirming Türkiye's full support for Syria in asserting its sovereignty and "cleansing its territory of terrorism."
Yilmaz also pointed to the strength of joint military cooperation and mutual trust between the two countries' armies and said, "There is very close cooperation between President Erdogan and President Sharaa, and both have the will to develop it."
The Turkish official also said Ankara is working to ease visa procedures and facilitate movement for Syrians wishing to travel within Türkiye or return to Syria, as part of steps aimed at reducing restrictions and procedures related to travel between the two countries.
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