Syria’s opposition on Friday rejected calls from Turkey for a reconciliation with the government, a senior member told The National.
A peaceful uprising against Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad started in early 2011 and turned into a full-scale civil war. The deadly crackdown on protesters has taken thousands of lives, devastated cities and led to interference from other countries.
Turkey, Russia and Iran are among those who have been drawn into the deadly unrest.
“The only thing they think about now is reconciliation with the regime … what reconciliation with a killer? This means that all the crimes being perpetrated during these 12 years would be erased,” Yahya Al Aridi, a senior member and spokesman for Syria’s opposition told The National.
“This is unbelievable, however, when Russia and Iran’s political gains and deals start to decrease then peace will prevail in Syria,” said Mr Al Aridi.
It would set a precedent in the world for any dictator to do the same thing and run away with their crimes
Yahya Al Aridi,
spokesman for Syria's opposition
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this week on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Belgium that there will not be “permanent peace” without the opposition and government’s reconciliation.
"We have to somehow get the opposition and the regime to reconcile in Syria. Otherwise, there will be no lasting peace, we always say this," he said to diplomats.
It is thought the only solution to Syria's war will be through the implementation of UN resolutions.
Various rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed to make any progress towards getting the two sides to agree to a peaceful solution.
"If — and it’s a very big if — the international community and those who care about peace and human rights, want to help in Syria, there are UN resolutions that are clear," Mr Al Aridi said.
"They talk about a political solution with a transitional Syrian body including members who did not commit any crimes or killings. In other words, the Assad regime has no place in the Syrian solution."
Comments spark protests in Syria
The Turkish minister's comments caused protests to break out in Syria's rebel-held north late on Thursday.
The calls for protests came after Friday prayers in key cities that fall under the control of Turkish forces and their supporters, including in Al Bab, Afrin and Jarablus.
Similar calls were made in Idlib, controlled by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham and other rebel groups, to gather at border crossings with Turkey.
About half a million people have died in the conflict in Syria, which has destroyed large areas of the country and displaced millions of people.
Since the outbreak of the war, Turkey has hosted the world's largest refugee population, with nearly four million Syrians under temporary protection. That is in addition to more than 320,000 refugees and asylum-seekers under international protection.
"Syrians along the border and in Turkey are being fed by its government, almost half of Syria is reliant on this relationship with Turkey, so if it breaks then you will break the whole thing," Mr Al Aridi said.
Turkey, however, does not have the right to "be the custodian of the Syrian case”, he said.
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From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
The five pillars of Islam
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
