By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

     

Reports from Ankara indicate a change of heart in the government of President Rajab Tayyeb Erdoghan considering relations with Syria after over a decade of strained ties and Turkey’s abortive attempt to topple the government of President Bashar al-Assad by bowing to US-Saudi-Israeli pressures in opening its borders for transit of terrorists of all hue and colour from various parts of the world, including the macabrely murderous takfiris.

Damascus, which thanks to timely help from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon’s legendry anti-terrorist movement, the Hezbollah, as well as from Russia, defeated the intricate plot to dismember Syria, might welcome such a move from Turkey, provided there is a sincerity of intention in resolving all outstanding disputes.

Turkey shares its longest border with Syria – 911 km to be exact – compared to its other borders with Iraq, Greece, Armenia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Thus, positive relations between the two neighbours which share cultural affinities as well as grievances on the part of Syria due to the 500-year rule of the Ottoman dynasty, are in the interest of the region and the larger Muslim world, on condition the vexing issues are resolved.

The tense relations between Turkey and Syria are not just because of Ankara’s military interference in Idlib but also annexation of the Hatay Province in 1939, as well as water disputes resulting from the Southeastern Anatolia Project.

Turkish media say Ankara is evaluating the possibility of starting talks with the Syrian government and that discussions are underway for new relations to be built between the two neighbours.

Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper, citing informed sources, said on Monday that discussions were taking place in the Turkish capital of Ankara on restoring normal relations.

It said relations between Damascus and Ankara can be improved and that the current situation may open a new door of opportunities for Turkey, especially for resolving the question of the militants of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

If Turkey is sincere, there is no reason why Syria will not welcome such a move on the basis of reciprocal gestures dealing not just with the PKK’s presence but resolving of other pending issues.

It should be recalled that over a decade earlier following exchange of visits between the Syria and Turkish presidents to each other’s capitals, the then Turkish foreign minister, Ahmad Davoudoghlu, had described ties between the two neighbours as “zero problems”.

President Abdullah Gül had visited Damascus in May 2009 in response to President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Ankara in 2007, followed by a cordial meeting between Assad and the then prime minister, Erdoghan at Bodrum on the two countries’ border in August 2008.

Unfortunately, the Americans, the Zionists, and Saudi Arabia had ganged up together to turn Turkey against Syria. 

Now that the plot against President Assad has utterly failed, the Persian Gulf Arabs have eaten the humble pie by making a beeline to mend fences with Syria, and Turkey wants to follow suit to alleviate the problems, including the burden of hosting refugees, it had unwittingly created for itself.