U.S. President Trump made statements regarding a closed-door meeting with Ahmed Shara, leader of the jihadist organization Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls the Damascus government, during a swearing-in ceremony held in the Oval Office.
Trump stated that he gets along very well with Ahmed Shara and that they had a good meeting, adding that they want Syria to be a successful country in the Middle East.
“We want Syria to be a very successful country, and I believe President Shara can achieve that,” Trump said, emphasizing that Shara is a “strong leader.”
Referring to the development of the political process in Syria, Trump made a reference to Turkey’s role, stating, “(Shara) gets along very well with President Erdoğan, who is a great leader. Erdoğan is a great leader. Erdoğan supports what is happening in Syria.”
Trump pointed out that his meeting marked an important turning point in solving bilateral and regional issues, and he noted:
“The President of Syria is a very strong leader. He comes from a very difficult region and is a strong man. I get along well with their new President. We will do everything we can for their success because this is part of the Middle East.”
Trump, asserting that peace has been established in the Middle East for the first time in a long time, expressed his belief that Syria’s success could be achieved with the leadership of Ahmed Shara.
On the other hand, regarding whether there would be a statement about Syria’s possible participation in the anti-ISIS coalition, Trump replied, “Yes, you can expect a statement regarding Syria on this matter.”
The U.S. President also added that they want to see Syria maintain good relations with Israel and that both countries are in close contact on this issue.
