Turkey PM Yildirim hints at mending ties with Syria

Turkey has been hit by a wave of violence in the past year

Turkey has said it wants to re-establish good relations with Syria - in an apparent reversal of its policy towards its war-stricken neighbour.

Up to now Turkey's government has been pressing hard for the overthrow of the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad. But Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim insisted good ties with Syria were needed "for the fight against terrorism" and stability in the region.

Binali Yildirim accused Bashar al-Assad of creating the conditions that gave rise to IS

There has so far been no public response from the Syrian government. Turkey has recently moved to end rifts with both Russia and Israel.

'Greatest and irrevocable goal'

Diplomatic ties between Turkey and Syria were severed after the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011.
Turkey is a key backer of both the political and armed Syrian opposition and has faced the burden of hosting more than 2.7 million refugees.

In December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleged that Mr Assad had "mercilessly killed 400,000 innocent people". But in comments broadcast live on television on Wednesday, Mr Yildirim said: "It is our greatest and irrevocable goal: developing good relations with Syria and Iraq, and all our neighbours that surround the Mediterranean and the Black Sea."

"We normalised relations with Russia and Israel. I'm sure we will normalise relations with Syria as well. For the fight against terrorism to succeed, stability needs to return to Syria and Iraq. "There have also been reports in the local media of Turkish and Syrian diplomats holding talks.