Turkey seeking to blackmail Russia in Idlib – Russian affairs expert

North-Press Agency

An expert on the Russian affairs considered that Turkey is delaying the issue of separating the "terrorists" in Idlib from other armed opposition groups in order to blackmail Russia, while a Turkish political analyst believes that Turkey has entered into several files in Syria and Libya, and it will try to pressure Russia in Idlib in exchange for Libya.

Russia had expressed its concern regarding Turkey's delay in implementing its obligations regarding the separation of the "terrorists" in Idlib from other Syrian armed opposition groups. In this regard, and in a special statement to North-Press, Dr. Sam Jawad, the expert on the Russian affairs considered that Turkey didn't delay as much as it has procrastinated and will delay on this issue in order to blackmail the Russian, Syrian and European sides, and it recognizes that the existing groups in Idlib are the terrorists on whom it depends, and that "separating the terrorists from the moderate groups is too late,” given that "time was sufficient in the past, but it didn't do that", in addition to that, "there is a consensus among all the existing groups in Idlib.”

Dr. Sam Jawad pointed out that the issue of decisiveness in Idlib is subject to many factors which must be taken into consideration, namely that, "Turkey will object to it, and the United States will say that there are massacres committed there, and some European countries may resort to using the chemical sheet in Idlib", so the concerns are present on the issue of resolving Idlib, according to the expert on the Russian affairs.  

Regarding what the Turkish President’s advisor said: "No one cares about changing the regime in Syria", Dr. Jawad considered that Turkey has no right to interfere in the Syrian territories and to violate its sovereignty, ruling out any meeting between the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Turkish one Erdogan in the near time, as he said that such a meeting "requires lots of attitudes and requirements on the diplomatic front before it takes place.”
Dr. Jawad added: "Turkey should apologize to the Syrian people for the crimes committed against them, and therefore the issue of the meeting of the two presidents is very far at the present time". He also pointed out that, "we must pay attention to the most important thing, which is how to resolve the issue of Idlib, on which many issues and matters are resolved.”

No close meeting between Assad and Erdogan  

In his interview with North Press, the Turkish political analyst, Firas Redwanoglu agreed what was spoken by the Russian affairs expert Dr. Sam Jawad about the inability to hold a meeting between Assad and Erdogan in the near time. The Turkish political analyst indicated that he doesn't believe that a meeting will take place between the Syrian and Turkish presidents in the near time, not even in the long time, even with the Russian mediation, adding: "There is no Russian mediation in this context.”

Regarding Turkey’s commitment to implementing the terms of Sochi Agreement which was signed between the Russian and Turkish Presidents, Redwanoglu said: "I think that Turkey is committed to Sochi Agreement, but matters are intertwined with each other and Turkey has entered into several files in Syria and Libya, as it will try to pressure Russia in order not to support major-general Khalifa Hafter, the commander of the National Army in Libya, and supports the Turkish intervention alongside the Libyan Government of National Accord, as well as taking Turkish interests into account, and there will be in return concessions by Turkey on the issue of Idlib.”

 
While Turkey’s lack of commitment to separate the "terrorists" in Idlib from other armed opposition groups was attributed to the fact that Turkey isn't ready to go into war with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), taking this into account, "there will be no separating between terrorists and moderates.”

According to the Turkish political analyst’s view, Firas Redwanoglu, "The battle of decisiveness or (the zero hour) won't start in Idlib, in the near time, because there are several issues and factors in this context that delay the battle.”