Syria’s cooperation with Turkey enters new phase—Minister
Reflecting on the first year following the fall of the Assad regime, Saleh highlighted that Türkiye now assumes “a major role” in Syria’s critical operations, including seismic monitoring, wildfire mitigation, and demining. The two nations are cooperating to restore systems that were dismantled or neglected during the previous administration.
Damascus and Ankara are finalizing a memorandum of understanding between Saleh’s ministry and Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), aimed at bolstering training, capacity building, and coordination for earthquake response and broader disaster management, according to statements.
Saleh emphasized the interdependence of security in both nations. “Security in Syria is linked to security in Türkiye, and security in Türkiye is linked to security in Syria,” he said, citing longstanding social connections, intermarriage, and the millions of Syrians who previously lived in Türkiye. He also noted educational and military exchanges, adding that Syrian officer cadets are attending Turkish military academies and pilots are training in Türkiye for the first time. “I can say there are 4 million bridges between Türkiye and Syria – 4 million Syrians who lived in Türkiye,” he remarked.
The minister explained that Syria is leveraging regional cooperation, particularly with Türkiye, to construct a national emergency system almost entirely from scratch. The country faces natural hazards including earthquakes, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. Initial priorities for his ministry included expanding services to newly recovered provinces, responding to wildfires and population displacement, and stabilizing key government institutions.
“It was a year full of emergency response … Full of challenges and difficulties,” Saleh said. Simultaneously, his team has been establishing new national bodies such as the National Mine Action Center, the National Earthquake Center, the National Meteorology Department, and directorates for civil defense, disaster management, and emergency recovery. Saleh stressed that the work aims to transition Syria from reactive responses to proactive prevention. “We will work on disaster preparedness, reducing loss of life and property, identifying Syria’s full risk matrix, and establishing a national early warning system,” he said.
Saleh, who formerly led the Syria Civil Defense—better known as the White Helmets—oversaw a volunteer group providing emergency services in areas where state structures were absent.
Reflecting on his transition to government, he said, “Civil society organizations enjoy flexibility and rapid movement. Government work is bound by bureaucratic regulations that limit flexibility.”
His goal, he added, is to integrate the responsiveness of civil society with the structure and accountability of government institutions. “My major challenge is merging flexibility with bureaucracy and transparency,” he said.
Landmines, unexploded ordnance, and rubble remain among Syria’s most pressing post-war challenges. Saleh noted, “These issues obstruct development, reconstruction, food security, the safe return of children to schools and the return of displaced people from camps to their areas.”
Syria has already cleared over 1 million cubic meters of rubble—nearly double the volume produced by the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes—and is implementing programs to recycle debris for roads and industrial areas. Turkish mine-clearing machinery has been deployed in several Syrian regions. “Several specialized mine-clearing machines entered service with the Syrian army and are operating now in different areas,” Saleh said.
He also confirmed plans to deepen collaboration with Türkiye in wildfire response and joint disaster management along the border. “Disasters do not recognize borders,” he said. “There will be a joint operations room on the Syrian-Turkish border to respond to emergencies, manage disasters, and protect forests.” Saleh added that Syria is drawing on Türkiye’s expertise in drought and earthquake management while developing its national early warning system.
Saleh emphasized that the transitional government seeks to rebuild public trust and establish a safer nation. “Our message to Syrians is that we are building a truly safe society,” he said. “We will always be there to serve them, protect them and their property during natural or other disasters.”
The fall of Bashar al-Assad last December ended the Baath Party’s six-decade rule, and a transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January. Saleh stated that the new leadership intends to break decisively from the past. “The new Syria, with its new leadership and policies, is built on openness, cooperation and peacebuilding,” he said.
“Syria will become a source of stability and safety for neighboring countries and the world – unlike the past years, when it was a source of threat, Captagon trafficking and atrocious human rights violations.”
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