Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
About 2.5 million Syrians living in Turkey are expected to return to Syria if the right conditions are met, a Turkish MP has said.
Thousands of Syrian refugees in the country have already gathered on the Turkish border eager to go home, after the collapse of Bashar Al Assad’s regime days ago.
Many have been motivated to do so since the fall of Aleppo last week, where a large portion of those refugees came from.
Kani Torun, who is deputy chairman of the Turkish government’s foreign affairs committee, said that while it was still too early to confirm the numbers, he expects the majority of the 3.5 million-plus Syrian refugees in Turkey to go back to Syria.
However, their return will depend on Syria’s transition, and Mr Torun urged the international community to support the creation of an “inclusive government” and to help finance resettlement.
“It is too early to say how many people will go back. If there is a peaceful transition many people are likely to go back,” he said.
“The international community should help set up an inclusive government. That’s the reason the international community should be involved and finance this resettlement issue,” he said.
Growing anti-migrant sentiment in Turkey
The UK and other European countries had stopped processing asylum applications for Syrians after the fall of the Assad regime.
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the UK had “paused asylum decisions on cases from Syria while the Home Office reviews and monitors the current situation”.
This also has implications for Turkey, where the vast majority of Syrian asylum seekers are based.
In Turkey, there is growing resentment against Syrian refugees and a growth in its far-right running on anti-immigration rhetoric in recent elections.
Turkish mayors from the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), had launched a campaign aimed at helping refugees return after the collapse of the regime, with promises to pay their transport and relocation costs.
Dogan Demir, a former member of the CHP and now a Future Party MP, called for Syrian refugees to be returned “in an orderly and timely manner”.
“What's happened to the Syrian people, what they've suffered is a tragedy,” he said on Monday.
“But ultimately the refugee influx has had numerous economic and sociological negative effects on Turkey, and it's probably to the benefit of everyone for these refugees to be returned in an orderly and timely manner,” he said.
“Within Turkey, there are a lot of eyes fixed on Syria, and the country's future revolves around the peaceful solution,” he said.
No partition of Syria
Although the future in Syria was uncertain, Mr Togun remained optimistic.
The conflict between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the north-east of the country was a point of concern.
The SNA’s goal was to “clear the west of the Euphrates river”. “There could be some Kurdish enclaves in the north-east, and in Latakia some Allawi enclaves, the resit is the new government,” he said.
Nonetheless, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the Islamist force that toppled the Assad regime has since taken control of Damascus, has shown “positive developments” in its formation of a new government.
Aleppo’s Bishop Hanna Jaalouf was appointed as head of the governorate, and Hayat Tahrir was now talking to the Alawis in Latakia to set up a local government.
The country should be governed by a coalition of groups, rather than Hayat Tahrir having full control, and the international community should work to ensure the country remains unified.
“The country should be governed by a coalition of forces, not just HTS. The new government should be more inclusive and, of course, democratic. Hopefully not just Turkey, also the other international forces will work in this way and, integrate the country,” he said.
The risks of partition meant the situation was “dangerous”. “Partition is not the solution in Syria,” he said.
Mr Demir also warned against partition, which would be “bad for the country and those around it.”
“I'm very worried about the future of Kurds and Alevis in the region,” he said.
The UK and western governments could play a role in diplomacy and providing humanitarian aid – but he urged them not to get involved militarily. “No military please,” he said.
“Humanitarian aid, rebuilding the country, financing, and diplomatic help,” he said.
He also called for new actors to lead a peace process, in a new grouping that would involve Turkey, Qatar and the US.
“Russia and Iran are out, and there should be new actors involved,” he told The National.
“The Arab League should be involved, and also Qatar, because they have money and is an Arab nation. Turkey because of its influence on the rebel movement, and the US of course. Hopefully, they will work together,” he said.
Russia’s involvement would be as a member of the P5, but he did not expect it to be “an obstacle for peace” in Syria, owing to its current involvement in Ukraine.
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• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
- Life in the royal residences with Sheikha Osha bint Nahayan
- Sheikha Mahra and Sheikha Sabha recall their time spent in Al Hosn
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- How the fort's rise tracked Abu Dhabi's development
- Meet Frauke Heard-Bey - the fort's historian for 30 years
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
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* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
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• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
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Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
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War on waste
The burning issue
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Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Transgender report
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Transgender report
Explained
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Saudi National Day
War on waste
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May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Saudi National Day
Towering concerns
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By Victor Davis Hanson
Tomorrow 2021
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