Lasting peace in Syria 'not realistic' with Assad in power: PM Yıldırım

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım affirmed Monday that Turkey does not believe that the crisis in neighboring Syria could be resolved whilst regime leader Bashar al-Assad remained in power.

"The current regime is responsible for the way things have evolved in Syria ... I don't think it's a realistic prospect to build lasting peace in Syria with Assad (in place)," he said.

Speaking to reporters in London, Yıldırım also touched upon Turkey's EU membership bid, saying the European Union need to revisit how far they will enlarge in the future and what Turkey's role will be in the bloc.

Yıldırım said the EU is "entirely confused" since Britain voted to leave the bloc.

Launched in 2005 after decades of seeking the formal start of an EU membership bid, Ankara's membership negotiations have long been sensitive for France and Germany because of Turkey's status as a large, mainly Muslim country.

Yıldırım is in the British capital to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.