Ankara, Paris seek to unite Syria dissidents

Turkey and France, which have recently become home to different wings of the Syrian opposition, will work together to build a unified organization that aims to assemble all dissidents under the same roof, according to diplomatic sources.

Syria will top the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Ministry heads of Turkey and France, Ahmet Davutoğlu and Alain Juppe, when they meet in Turkey. As part of a two-day official trip to Turkey beginning today, Juppe will also be received by President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Recalling that as both countries hosted Syrian opposition groups, a Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News that discussing ways to unite them and create a solid opposition organization should not be surprising.

Assad’s exiled uncle, Rifaat al-Assad, and former Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam took charge of a new opposition movement in Paris. Turkey is in close contact with the Syrian National Council and will likely allow them to open a mission on its territory.