İZMİR - Stating that the approaches of the parties in the Turkey-Russia-Syria talks are directly related to the Kurds, Journalist Fehim Taştekin said: "Assad's partnership with the Kurds is a very logical way for Syria's territorial, political and military integrity."

 

Since the Syrian civil war started in 2011, the conflict between Turkey and Assad has started to dissolve in the last period. It was rumored that the heads of intelligence of the two countries had been meeting for a while and were making progress. On December 28, 2022, Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar and Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Hakan Fidan, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Şoygu and Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmud Abbas met in Moscow. It was started to talk about this meeting, the negotiations between the two countries and that Erdogan and Assad would come together in the future.

 

The reactions from the talks also started to rise. Especially in the Syrian cities under the control of Turkey, protests were held against the talks. The groups protested over the possibility of “normalization” of Turkey-Syria relations in some regions such as Idlib, Atarib, Dana, Taftanaz, Azez, Ahtarin, Marea, Al Bab, Jarablus, Çobanbey, Afrin, Tel Abyad.

 

THE TARGET IS KURDS

 

Commenting on the latest developments between Syria, Russia and Turkey, Journalist, writer Fehim Taştekin, Journalist, writer Fehim Taştekin: "The approaches of all parties in the meeting are directly related to the Kurds. Turkey's conditions are in particular. Turkey's conditions are against the Kurds. Turkey has a lot of expectations in this normalization process; however, it has pursued a policy to direct its military operations to areas where Kurds are present. It has continued to maintain its insistence on creating a 'Security Zone' 30 kilometers deep when it enters the normalization process. Now, if it makes an agreement with Syria, it wants to establish this goal with another mechanism. The purpose of this is to collapse the de facto autonomous structure and end the PYD/YPG's presence in this area. We do not know how much of this formula will be met."

 

KURDISH WILL DEFINE THE DESTINATION

 

Noting that Syria's approach is not the same as Turkey's, Taştekin said: "Turkey sees the Kurds as a 'terrorist organization' and that Syria's approach is that Kurds are their citizens. According to the statements of the Turkish side, the insistence of the Kurds did not find a response in Damascus. There is also the idea that an approach that takes the Kurds to the opposite front will be harmful to Russia and that it will be beneficial for the United States; therefore, they do not look at Turkey from the same point of view. But even this does not mean that the Kurds can to a large extent preserve their gains. That is, it is very difficult to transfer the current structure to the future as it is in the current conditions. How much autonomy can be preserved depends on Turkey's pressure power. Will Turkey take a different approach in this process? It depends on Erdogan. We don't know exactly what's going on in the mind. Can it show a softening about the Kurds before the elections? The Kurdish node inside also determines the direction of Syrian politics; therefore, it is necessary to look at whether there will be other changes in the election process."

 

THOSE WHO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE KURDS WIN

 

Pointing out that Assad's confrontation with the Kurds would pose a problem for him, Taştekin said: "The Syrian army was tired, exhausted, lost and was not in a position to control the entire region. The option of conflict can bring the US factor into play. As long as the US is in the region, it is very difficult for Syria to hold these regions militarily; therefore, partnership with the Kurds is a very logical way for Syria's territorial, political and military integrity. If the Syrian Democratic Forces joins the Syrian army or if a semi-autonomous status is achieved, it will mean that the military capacity of the Syrian army will increase. This is a good thing for Syria. But on the other hand, they can make an assessment as follows: In terms of Syria in general, Turkey is the main financier of the opposition groups, and as long as Turkey maintains its presence in the field, it is difficult for Syria to maintain its territorial integrity. As long as it maintains its presence on the ground, it is difficult for Syria to maintain its territorial integrity. In other words, a change in Turkey's policy is extremely vital for Syria. If Turkey puts aside its obsession with the Kurds and seeks an agreement with Syria, this would be preferable for Syria."