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Syria is nearing the reopening of its embassy in Türkiye and is in ongoing talks with Turkish authorities, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Thursday, describing bilateral ties as “privileged.”
Speaking at a panel titled “Foreign Policy for a New Syria” at Chatham House in London, Shaibani outlined Damascus’ evolving diplomatic posture and confirmed efforts to restore full representation in Ankara.
“We are close to opening a Syrian Embassy in Türkiye,” he said. “Of course, our mission and embassy in Türkiye are important because we have privileged relations with Türkiye.”
Shaibani explained that Syria had previously lost its embassy building in Ankara due to unpaid rent during the Assad regime. He said the Syrian government recently opened a consulate in the southeastern city of Gaziantep to reduce pressure on the consulate in Istanbul, with the approval of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
“The embassy was rented, and the Syrian regime defaulted on payment. We lost the property,” Shaibani said. “We are now in talks with the Turkish government and making progress.”
He added that restructuring of Syria’s diplomatic missions abroad was already underway as part of a wider reform effort, not in reaction to any specific events.
Shaibani said Syria’s international standing is rising following President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s landmark visit to Washington, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Syria is no longer a marginal country. Syria is important for all countries around the world,” he said. He described the summit as a “very successful” meeting that covered all key issues and signaled a shift in global perceptions.
The minister also welcomed Washington’s recent decision to suspend Caesar Act sanctions for another 180 days, calling full repeal “only a matter of time.”
“In 11 months, we changed the world’s view of Syria and eliminated the fears that once existed,” he said.
On relations with Moscow, Shaibani said Syria’s approach is “pragmatic” and not confrontational, even though Russia was a key partner of the previous Assad regime.
“We do not want problems with Russia at this critical stage,” he said. “We want to regulate Russia’s role in Syria and reframe our relationship.”
He acknowledged that Russia played a significant role during the conflict but emphasized that Damascus is now focused on “reconstruction” and must not be distracted by geopolitical tensions.
“Russia’s role in Syria will not be as it was in the past. They used to control many aspects of the government,” he said.
Calling Syria a “single national fabric,” Shaibani stressed that unity and territorial integrity remain non-negotiable.
“Syria is like a painting; its beauty and brilliance cannot be seen until it is complete,” he said. “We are a mosaic. We cannot consider any form of division.”
The foreign minister concluded by stating that Syria is entering a transitional period that demands focus on rebuilding trust with its citizens and establishing a government that is “not distant from its people.”
Meanwhile, Syrian foreign minister Thursday raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic at the embassy building in London, which reopened after being closed since 2013, during his official visit to the United Kingdom.
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