The significance of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum for Syria?

The fourth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum kicked off today under the theme "Adopting Diplomacy in a Divided World," with expectations of the participation of heads of states and governments from around 20 countries, and foreign ministers from nearly 60 countries. President of Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani met with several ministers and presidents on the sidelines of the forum. What is the Antalya Diplomacy Forum? The forum is held from April 11 to 13 at the "Nest" Conference Center in Belek, emphasizing the importance of restoring diplomacy as a means to solve regional and global issues, and presenting dialogue as a fundamental tool to address crises. Official statements on the forum's website point to challenges arising from increasing geopolitical tensions, global disparities, technological transformations, and stress the necessity for participants to offer solutions to these challenges. Despite limited American and European participation, the forum proves its significance by becoming a platform where voices representing Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans are highlighted. What is the significance of Syrian participation in the forum? The participation of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in the forum serves to enhance the importance of discussions related to Syria, with a special session dedicated to this file. The forum also provides an opportunity to shed light on the new phase in Syria, with Arab, Turkish, and international participation. Among the participating representatives of international organizations are the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Alan Perse, and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Feridun Sinirlioglu, while high-level attendance from the European Union or most Western European countries is not expected.