Syria and Türkiye Sign Disaster Management Cooperation Memorandum in Damascus

Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa received Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci and his accompanying delegation at the People’s Palace in Damascus, with Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab also attending the meeting.

“Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday for a visit during which he will discuss with Syrian officials security cooperation, disaster management, and training of security forces, in addition to the issue of voluntary return of Syrians residing in Turkey”

Al-Jazeera Net

The talks focused on ways to strengthen security cooperation and coordination between the two countries, as well as the exchange of experience in addressing common challenges that contribute to maintaining stability.

Al-Jazeera Net

On Tuesday, Damascus hosted the signing of a disaster management cooperation memorandum between Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh and Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi aimed at establishing an effective framework for joint cooperation in disaster and emergency management.

The memorandum includes provisions for mutual assistance and response during disasters or emergencies, exchange of expertise and knowledge, and implementation of specialized training programs in prevention, preparedness and response to enhance joint readiness and the two countries’ capacities to face disasters and protect lives.

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi visited Damascus on Tuesday for talks with Syrian officials on security, migration, police training and disaster response, and was received at Damascus International Airport by Syria’s deputy interior minister and officials from the International Cooperation Directorate.

The meeting with Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab at Tishreen Palace covered cooperation on electronic traffic enforcement systems, license plate recognition, fingerprint technology, passport and identity document production and security equipment, alongside setting up a 112 emergency call and ambulance network.

Anadolu Ajansı

Çiftçi’s delegation included Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Ali Çardakcı, National Police Chief Ali Fidan, Migration Management President Muhammed Selami Yazıcı and AFAD President Ali Hamza Pehlivan, while Syria was represented by Deputy Interior Minister Abdulqadir Tahan and other officials.

After meeting with Khattab, Çiftçi was scheduled to hold talks with Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed Salih in Damascus, with the two ministers signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in disaster and emergency management.

Syrian forces arrested, on Wednesday, December 24, the head of the Islamic State group (IS) in Damascus, Taha Al-Zoubi, known as Abu Omar Tabiya, along with men in the area around the Syrian capital, in an operation carried out with the United States-led international anti-jihadist coalition.

“Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi has met with his Syrian counterpart, Anas Khattab, in Damascus for wide-ranging talks focused on security cooperation, public order and strengthening Syria's institutional capacity”

Caliber.Az

The head of Damascus province's internal security, General Ahmad Al-Dalati, said the operation targeted one of IS's hideouts in the Al-Moadamiya area and called it "a severe blow to the organization".

The announcement came more than ten days after a December 13 attack attributed by Washington to IS killed two American soldiers and an American interpreter in central Syria.

In parallel, Turkish officials framed their Syria engagement as support for security cooperation and institutional capacity, with Ahmet Yildiz telling Rudaw Media Network in New York that "there is no room for two parallel entities in a unified Syria" and that the agreement between the SDF and Damascus government must be fully implemented.