Erdoğan, al-Sharaa meet in New York to discuss latest developments

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is continuing his engagements in New York, US, where he arrived to attend the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

President Erdoğan met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the Turkish House (Türkevi) on Wednesday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Turkish Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın were also present at the meeting.

According to a statement from Türkiye's Communications Directorate, the meeting focused on bilateral ties with Syria and regional issues.

Erdoğan said Türkiye expects all sanctions on Syria to be lifted as soon as possible and supports any initiative that respects Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) must comply with the March 10 agreement, adding that Türkiye is closely monitoring developments in the region, and support for Syria will continue to increase.

On March 10, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions, stressing the country's territorial integrity and rejecting any separatist designs.

Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. Sharaa's new transitional administration was formed in January.