Antalya: Participants in the Antalya International Diplomatic Forum, during a session on Syria, stressed the need to lift sanctions and halt Israeli attacks that are destabilizing the country. They emphasized that achieving progress in the Syrian issue requires halting policies that deepen chaos.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, held in southwestern Turkey on Saturday, hosted a session titled “Syria: A Country Reconciled and Rebuilt.” The session was moderated by Waddah Khanfar, President of the East Forum. Participants included Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Program Carl Skau, UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, and the President of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Professor Jeffrey Sachs. Ammar Kahf, President of the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, also commented.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz said that the Syrian people now have real hope for the first time in 14 years, noting that a recent poll showed that 70 percent of Syrians are optimistic about their country’s future, and 80 percent trust Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Yilmaz explained that the technical meeting between Turkish and Israeli delegations in Azerbaijan is not a diplomatic meeting, but rather a mechanism to avoid armed clashes in Syrian airspace. He emphasized that normalization of relations with Israel is only possible after the genocide in Gaza stops and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire is achieved.
He added that Israel is seeking to create chaos in Syria to justify its military presence by targeting security centers. He warned that ISIS terrorist elements and the organization’s sleeper cells could be used as a new pretext to consolidate this presence.
For his part, UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen said that Syria needs President to fulfill his promises regarding comprehensive reform, the formation of an inclusive government, and the preservation of state institutions. He emphasized that the transition from a dictatorial regime to a new one is a difficult task and requires time, but the people must feel the first fruits of this transformation.
Pederson called for lifting or at least easing sanctions, limiting them to avoid impacting humanitarian sectors such as food, energy, and the banking sector, warning that the humanitarian situation could deteriorate if current measures continue. Pedersen emphasized that Israel is “playing with fire” and that its attacks threaten the stability of the region, calling for an immediate halt.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, for his part, considered the United States and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), along with Israel, to be primarily responsible for destabilizing Syria and the region. He emphasized that “peace will not be achieved without ending their interference.”
He said that Israel could not wage a one-day war in Gaza without political, military, and financial support from Washington. He called for American recognition of the State of Palestine and an end to support for Israel in order to end the war.
For his part, Deputy Director of the World Food Program, Carl Skow, said that the food situation in Syria is worsening, noting that the program is capable of assisting 3 million people, but lacks sufficient resources, and that current aid only reaches 1.5 million people.
He emphasized the need to invest in supporting farmers and providing cash and food, calling on donors to increase their funding, because “achieving food security is a prerequisite for stability.”
Syrian researcher Ammar al-Qahf emphasized that sanctions represent the most significant challenge facing Syrians, calling for Syria’s regional reintegration and an end to its status as a regional arena of conflict. He warned that the greatest threat posed by Israeli attacks is that Syria cannot deal with them alone, but must be deterred by a new regional order.
The fourth edition of the Antalya International Diplomatic Forum (ADF2025) kicked off yesterday, Friday, with the participation of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, and representatives of international organizations.