A.Rafay
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2012
- Messages
- 11,400
- Reaction score
- 10
- Country
- Location
ANKARA: Turkey is turning to regional powers Iran and Russia, backers of the Damascus regime, to help it deal with Syria's bloody civil war that has spilled across its border with deadly shelling and a flood of refugees, analysts say.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the first signs last week that Ankara may be shifting the way it approaches the 19-month conflict after holding what local media called a "surprise meeting" with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in Baku.
Ankara has proposed to Iran establishing a set of trilateral mechanisms involving key regional players to face the Syrian crisis raging at their doorsteps.
"This (trilateral) mechanism might involve Turkey, Egypt and Iran," Erdogan said. "A second mechanism could involve Turkey, Russia, Iran. A third could be made up of Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia."
"This represents a significant shift in position by Ankara," Semih Idiz wrote in the English-language Hurriyet Daily News.
"It was no more than a few months ago that Ankara looked coolly on any discussion on Syria which involved Russia and Iran due to their unconditional backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad," he argued.
Erdogan's government, a one-time Assad ally, has burnt bridges with Damascus after its deadly crackdown on popular dissent that erupted in March last year and has turned into a civil war.
Turkey has since then provided sanctuary for some 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict, as well as the exiled Syrian rebel and political leadership, in camps along its volatile border.
At the same time Turkey's parliament has approved military action against Damascus "when deemed necessary", shortly after Syrian shells killed five Turks in a border town on October 3. The Turkish military has beefed up border security with aircraft and tanks.
But in the region, Ankara's deterrent measures have not set well with Iran and Russia and have changed the perception of Turkey as troublesome.
Turkey looking to tackle Syria crisis - thenews.com.pk
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the first signs last week that Ankara may be shifting the way it approaches the 19-month conflict after holding what local media called a "surprise meeting" with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in Baku.
Ankara has proposed to Iran establishing a set of trilateral mechanisms involving key regional players to face the Syrian crisis raging at their doorsteps.
"This (trilateral) mechanism might involve Turkey, Egypt and Iran," Erdogan said. "A second mechanism could involve Turkey, Russia, Iran. A third could be made up of Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia."
"This represents a significant shift in position by Ankara," Semih Idiz wrote in the English-language Hurriyet Daily News.
"It was no more than a few months ago that Ankara looked coolly on any discussion on Syria which involved Russia and Iran due to their unconditional backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad," he argued.
Erdogan's government, a one-time Assad ally, has burnt bridges with Damascus after its deadly crackdown on popular dissent that erupted in March last year and has turned into a civil war.
Turkey has since then provided sanctuary for some 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict, as well as the exiled Syrian rebel and political leadership, in camps along its volatile border.
At the same time Turkey's parliament has approved military action against Damascus "when deemed necessary", shortly after Syrian shells killed five Turks in a border town on October 3. The Turkish military has beefed up border security with aircraft and tanks.
But in the region, Ankara's deterrent measures have not set well with Iran and Russia and have changed the perception of Turkey as troublesome.
Turkey looking to tackle Syria crisis - thenews.com.pk
