Turkey to eject Syrian opposition leaders

A Turkish official last week requested the Syrian opposition leaders living in Turkey to leave, saying the Erdogan government was determined to develop ties with the Syrian administration, Iranian private Tasnim agency reported on Sunday. 

As a result, the Syrian opposition forces have to find a replacement country (for migration and relocation) and must halt all of their political and media activities in Turkey, the official said, according to Tasnim.

The official made these remarks in a meeting with Salem al-Meslet,  president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and “asked him to accept the reality,” Tasnim said. 

On August 24, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with Salem al-Meslet in Ankara among other Syrian opposition leaders as part of Turkey’s efforts to reconcile the opposition with the Syrian regime. 

"We appreciate and support the opposition's contribution to the political process within the framework of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254," Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted in December 2015 endorsed a road map to peace in Syria and called for an immediate ceasefire across Syria and the initiation of political negotiations for a unity government.

Turkey’s Erdogan government has backed Syrian opposition groups from the get go in the 11-year civil war and pushed to topple the Assad government but after the Syrian regime -backed by Russia- managed to hold on to power, it softened its tone and began highlighting diplomacy.

Asked last week about potential talks with Damascus, Erdogan said “diplomacy between states can never be fully severed.” and “there is a need to take further steps with Syria."