Erdogan Plans Syria Visit to Boost Stability, Turkey Approves PKK Reintegration Law

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing for a visit to Syria, a trip initially planned for April but postponed due to the Iran war. The visit signals Turkey's intent to enhance stability in its neighbor, with Erdogan emphasizing that Syria "will not be alone."

Erdogan expressed optimism about the role Syrian Kurds could play in achieving peace and stability. He also committed to strengthening Turkey's relationships with Kurdish communities throughout the region. This outreach coincides with the Turkish parliament's approval of a "framework law" aimed at fostering national solidarity and social integration. This legislation is designed to facilitate the return and reintegration of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members into Turkish society as part of the "Terror-Free Türkiye" initiative.

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Türkiye would do everything possible to bolster stability in its neighbor, stressing that Syria “will not be alone.”

Meanwhile, comments attributed to Mahmoud Berkhedan, a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander, suggest significant progress in military integration with Damascus. Berkhedan praised Erdogan and Devlet Bahceli for their role in Turkey's peace process. He indicated that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the primary component of the SDF, have been integrated into the Syrian army. Berkhedan stated that the YPG would be dissolved within days, and the Autonomous Administration structure in northern and northeastern Syria would cease to exist. "We have buried our weapons and are not demanding an independent state," Berkhedan declared, emphasizing a commitment to participating in building a "new Syria within one army, one state, one flag and a shared homeland."

The planned Syria visit, originally considered for April 21, was disrupted by regional developments. Turkish Ambassador to Damascus Nuh Yilmaz indicated the trip remains on the agenda and will be announced once arrangements are finalized, with a visit expected before the year's end. Erdogan's last visit to Damascus was in January 2011, prior to the Syrian uprising and the subsequent diplomatic rupture.

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We have buried our weapons and are not demanding an independent state. There is no turning back. We will participate side by side in building a new Syria within one army, one state, one flag and a shared homeland.