Turkey neither alternative for Syrians nor trustee – Syrian politician
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkey would not be an alternative for Syrians or even a trustee over them, said Bashar al-Haj Ali, member of the Syrian Constitutional Committee for the opposition, referring to the recent statements made by Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu.
On August 11, Cavusoglu called for reconciliation between the Syrian government and opposition, prompting wide spread protests in areas held by Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in Idlib and Aleppo rejecting any normalization with the government.
“We have to somehow bring opposition and the regime in Syria together to reach an agreement. Otherwise, there will be no lasting peace,” Cavusoglu said.
Al-Haj Ali told North Press, “We do not bargain our fateful issues. The Turkish leadership has the right to achieve its interests, notably in the Syrian issue as a neighboring country.”
“We have no problem with any country in seeking their interests or political orientations; every sovereign country has the right to approach anyone and whenever it wants,” he added.
The Syrian politician considered the recent Turkish statements regarding rapprochement with “the Syrian regime a drastic change of its policy, particularly for the Turkish, Syrian and Arab public opinions.”
Al-Haj believed that Turkey is well aware that the current Syrian government cannot be reformed or reconciled with.
The Turkish statements came after the tripartite summit in Tehran on July 19 between Russia, Turkey and Iran, as well as the bilateral summit between Russia and Turkey on August 5 in Sochi. Both summits discussed the Syrian issue in general, and Turkey’s security concerns and its potential military operation in northern Syria in particular.
The Syrian politician welcomed mediation or any reconciliation carried out by Turkey, but only if it addresses the Syrian people demands, and be in line with the international law regarding holding criminals accountable.
He explained that no one denies the Turkey’s pursuit of its interests, “but neither Turkey nor anyone else has the right to decide instead of the Syrians.”
This is the basis of the successful relations. All Syrians must realize the responsibility of preserving the path of political change, which is a core principle of their revolution, according to al-Haj Ali.