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Syria has largely remained on the sidelines of the broader regional war involving Iran due to the strategic approach adopted by authorities in Damascus, Türkiye’s ambassador to the Syrian capital, Nuh Yilmaz, said.
He added that the recent military and political developments in Syria have pushed Kurdish groups away from terrorism and opened the way for a broader integration process.
Speaking to CNN TURK at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Yilmaz evaluated the latest situation in Syria, the course of the terrorism-related process in the country and the reasons why Syria has stayed relatively safe during the war in the Middle East.
Asked why Syria has remained relatively safe amid the regional conflict, Yilmaz cited several factors, primarily Damascus’ strategic foresight.
He noted that the administration’s controlled management of the conflict allowed it to outmaneuver the Assad government. By integrating various social sectors into the process, it subsequently established a more inclusive political framework.
According to Yilmaz, the administration calculated the cost of war well and tried as much as possible to stay out of the conflict.
He also stated that a primary concern for Israel was Iran's footprint in Syria. According to Yilmaz, the new administration curtailed Iran’s influence due to long-standing friction with Tehran, a move that helped insulate Syria from the broader regional conflict.
Regarding the involvement of armed groups, Yilmaz noted a significant slowdown in the process initiated last March, citing the SDF's reluctance to take further steps.
He noted that the dynamic shifted following recent military setbacks, which prompted the YPG/PKK to gradually adopt a different stance.
Yilmaz argued that this shift effectively crushed the group's hope of a military solution. Their rapid defeat dealt a significant blow to their self-confidence, which he cited as a key reason why the current process is now proceeding more constructively.
He added that this was one of the most important reasons why the current process is now proceeding in a healthier way.
Yilmaz noted that previous developments in Syria were partly driven by systemic rights violations against Kurds, specifically highlighting that many were denied national identity cards during the Assad era.
He stated that the Syrian administration expanded political space and addressed nearly all long-standing Kurdish grievances. Specifically, he pointed to the resolution of the citizenship issue and the implementation of measures allowing the use of their mother tongue.
Yilmaz asserted that by resolving these grievances, the administration effectively decoupled the Kurdish issue from the issue of terrorism.
Yilmaz said that after the military defeat, the YPG side became more willing to reach an agreement. He explained that the region's previous, more expansive structure had weakened significantly after the latest conflict. It was primarily due to the exodus of Arabs and other ethnic groups, alongside the Kurdish population's increasing distance from the PKK following recent political reforms.
Even so, he said, those structures still need to be integrated into the system, and negotiations on that issue are currently continuing through different channels.
Yilmaz noted that, unlike last year's agreement, current promises are now being fulfilled.
He said one key issue had been the transfer of border crossings and noted that the Semelka Border Gate was taken over by the government a few days ago.
He added that the gradual transfer of oil fields and the restoration of government control over border crossings are underway, noting these were already central pillars of the process.
Yilmaz stated that once these transfers are finalized, the process will transition to integrating local armed elements into the central state. He noted that they are monitoring these positive developments with cautious optimism, adding that, as President Ahmad al-Sharaa indicated, there is significant agreement on this path.
Yilmaz said recent developments also helped ease tensions, including the return through exchanges of some elements captured during the war.
He stated that both sides have agreed to prioritize national integration in exchange for political representation, effectively abandoning separatist agendas. However, he cautioned that the process will take time, noting that the situation in Syria differs significantly from Türkiye's fight against terrorism.
Yilmaz noted that while Türkiye’s focus was direct counterterrorism, Syria is working to reunify a fractured nation. Consequently, he explained that while the dynamics differ, the process is currently trending in a positive direction.
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