Turkey has announced the start of a large-scale reconstruction and resettlement program in Syria, focusing on residential areas devastated during the years of conflict under the Assad government. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the announcement in a speech on Tuesday, according to TRT World. He said that cities destroyed by bombings during Bashar al-Assad’s rule would be prioritized for rebuilding.

Erdoğan stated that improvements in Syria’s security and stability would have positive effects across neighboring countries and the wider region. He also welcomed a recent decree by Syria’s new administration that guarantees basic rights for Kurdish citizens who had lost their citizenship during Assad’s regime. The Turkish president called for unity and warned against any attempts to inflame ethnic divisions.

Erdoğan added that Turkey is closely coordinating with Syria’s new government to respond to humanitarian aid requests from Kurdish communities living beyond its borders.