Syrian President Bashar Assad said Turkey’s Premier Erdogan thinks that he is the new sultan of the Ottoman and he can control the region as it was during the Ottoman Empire under a new umbrella.

In an interview with Russia Today, Assad spoke about current relations between Syria and Turkey. Asked why once friendly Turkey became a foothold for the opposition, Assad said it is “not Turkey, but only Erdogan’s government.”

“Turkish people need good relations with the Syrian people,” he told RT.

Speaking about possibility of Syria-Turkey war, Assad said it is not a realistic scenario.

“The war needs public support and the majority of the Turkish people do not need this war”, he said adding he personally sees no war between the states on the horizon.