A group of Syrian opposition bodies and entities held a meeting hosted by Turkey on Tuesday, September 3, coinciding with the increasing pace of Turkish statements regarding rapprochement with the Syrian regime.

The meeting took place between the Syrian Interim Government, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (Syrian National Coalition), the Syrian Negotiations Commission, the Council of Tribes and Clans, and leaders of the Syrian National Army.

During the meeting, the current Syrian situation and ways to overcome the challenges facing it were discussed, according to the final statement of the meeting, published by the Interim Government.

According to the statement, a number of points were discussed among the meeting parties, which included emphasizing the importance of continuing to hold meetings to discuss urgent problems and find appropriate solutions. It also stressed the need to support the National Army by political bodies, especially in front of the International Investigative Committee and other international platforms.

The participants also agreed that continuing to structure the National Army and unifying the factions under one umbrella would enhance stability and security in the “liberated areas.” They emphasized the need to empower the Interim Government and activate its role internally and externally. They also highlighted the importance of increasing interaction between the Coalition and its popular base and its actual presence on the ground, “which enhances confidence and cooperation between the leadership and the people.”

No relation to Abu al-Zandeen with rapprochement

One of the points discussed in the opposition’s meeting was the importance of the Abu al-Zandeen crossing as a crucial humanitarian and economic crossing that positively affects the economic and humanitarian situation in the area.

The participants also confirmed that the crossing has no relation to any of the normalization files with the regime. It is a step aimed at improving living conditions and facilitating commercial and humanitarian movement in the “liberated areas.”

On August 18, the crossing located in the city of al-Bab, east of Aleppo, was opened between areas controlled by the Syrian National Army and regime-controlled areas under the auspices of the Interim Government and the Military Police affiliated with the National Army. However, it quickly ceased to operate under the pressure of protests and a wave of popular anger rejecting such a step.

Sensitive timing

The meeting of the Syrian opposition bodies hosted by Turkey comes at a time when the pace of actions related to the path of rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus is accelerating.

On Tuesday, the pro-regime Al-Watan newspaper reported that Moscow is expected to have already completed the agenda for the quadripartite meeting (Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the Syrian regime) to normalize relations between Turkey and the regime, expected by the end of this September.

At the same time, Dilara Aslan, Ankara Bureau Chief for the Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper, quoted Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli as saying that Turkey welcomes Russia’s efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus.

The spokesperson continued, “We want to see a Syria to which its people have returned, which lives in peace with its people, and which has achieved a real national settlement with steps taken within the framework of legitimate demands and expectations mentioned in the UN Security Council.”

On August 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced preparations for a new meeting to normalize relations between Turkey and the Syrian regime, confirming it would be held very soon.