Russian diplomat: No legal ground for the Turkish threats on north and eastern Syria
Moscow – North-Press Agency
Fahim al-Sorani
The recent Turkish military mobilizations has come to re-shuffle the cards on the Syrian crisis, it also turns the output of Astana’s recent round into ink on paper, as if everything was relied on to be achieved in the midst of the complicated Syrian crisis which has returned to square one.
Hence, at this critical point, the Russian attitude comes to the surface, which has put all its weight on pushing forward the political solution of the crisis in Syria, to avoid colliding with the planned Turkish military operation in northern Syria.
An uncommited partner
The stance of the head of Duma Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov was clear on Turkey’s new position, as he said that Moscow was concerned about the Turkish decision to launch a military operation in northern Syria, in addition to the Russian criticism against the Turkish side regarding the implementation of the agreements which were previously reached.
He also pointed out that Russia and Turkey will hold negotiations, which it won’t be that easy, regarding finding a solution for the crisis in north-eastern Syria and Idlib.
Moreover, Russian analysts believe that Moscow understands as well Damascus position, which considers that the Turkish military operation, in case if it happens, would bury the last possibility to restore the dialogue with Ankara, as a major question mark will wrap the credibility of the Turkish side in terms of its commitment to the outputs of Astana and Sochi.
The Russian analysts also referred that Moscow is not convinced with the Turkish argument that this operation would defeat the SDF in north-eastern Syria as a first step towards resolving the displacement crisis, and to send about a million of them back to their country.
For his part, Vyacheslav Matuzov, the former Russian diplomat and chairman of Russia’s society of Friendship and Cooperation with Arab Countries, has told North-Press that Moscow’s cautious stance could be linked to the fact that the Turkish military operation would not affect the Russian and Syrian interests, especially if it would limit the US military presence and its allied Syrian forces.
“It’s a problem of the US-Turkish relationship, and whether it depend on Ankaras’ crossing the US red lines,” Matuzov added.
No legal ground
The Russian diplomat added that the Russian leadership depends on the fact that any Turkish military action must take into account the international law, which is currently unavailable term, pointing out that the situation seems as contradictory to Moscow: on one hand, it is concerned not to strain relations with Turkey, while on the other hand, it realizes that the Syrian government is unlikely to agree on such an operation on its territories, even if it results in a curtailment of the US military presence on the country.
Rashness is not in Turkey’s favor
Vyacheslav Matuzov concluded that the Troika meeting of the guarantor countries to be held in Ankara early next month will undoubtedly discuss the Turkish operation against north-eastern Syria, while advising the Turkish side not to start the operation prior to this meeting, as possible solutions could be reached during this summit without straining the relations between the three parties.