The Joint Syrian-Turkish Joint Committee held its periodic meeting at the Directorate General of Migration Management in Istanbul to discuss the progress of its work regarding the regularization of the situation of Syrian nationals in Turkey. The Committee also discussed ways to support the IDP in Idlib and rural Aleppo in cooperation with Turkish relief organizations.
The meeting was attended by President of the Syrian National Coalition, Anas al-Abda and members of the Committee from the Syrian side. From the Turkish side, the meeting was attended by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior, Ismail Çatakli, Director General of Migration Management Abdullah Ayaz, and senior officials of the Migration Management.
President Al-Abda commended the Committee’s efforts to address the situation of Syrian nationals in Turkey, especially with regard to granting temporary protection ID cards to school students in Istanbul and their families as well as re-validating the ID cards that were previously revoked. He stressed that the Committee achieved many of its goals and moved today to new stages of work.
The two sides also discussed the formation of subcommittees in the Turkish provinces that host large numbers of Syrian nationals such as Sanliurfa, Hatay, Mersin, and Gaziantep.
The two sides stressed the need for all Syrian nationals in Turkey to update their records at the official centers. They also stressed the need for holders of tourist residency permits to register the address of residence at the civil registries.
The Turkish officials talked about developing an integrated program to conduct training courses, activities, events and lectures to familiarize Syrian nationals with Turkish traditions and culture and to educate them on the laws and regulations so as to help them adapt to life in Turkey. They stressed that the Committee will continue to help Syrian nationals settle their legal status in order to avoid any legal issues.
The meeting also touched on the catastrophic situation in Idlib. Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior, Ismail Çatakli, said that the Ministry has intensified efforts to relieve the IDP and secure their basic needs in cooperation with Turkish humanitarian organizations, chief among them is AFAD. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
