This allegation about Turkey having changed its past position on the ongoing crisis in Syria is based on the new approach that the Turkish government has taken to the Syrian government the most important highlights of which include:
- A tangible change in the aggressive and hostile tone of Ankara toward the Syrian government;
- The different, and of course constructive, approach taken by Ankara to the forthcoming Geneva 2 conference (on Syria crisis), which has made Turkish government take steps to get the Syrian opposition groups as well as the foreign-backed militants take part in this conference without considering any preconditions for their participation.
- Withdrawing from Ankara’s past position that [the incumbent Syrian President Bashar] Assad should step down, and not insisting on that position as Ankara did in past years;
- Modification of Ankara’s political relations with Riyadh in such a way that Ankara is now dealing with Saudi Arabia with more care and caution than two years ago.
- The Turkish government has been making efforts to get closer to Iran and mend fences with the Islamic Republic. These efforts have been represented by the official invitation that Turkey has extended to the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to visit that country. Another proof to Turkey’s changing position on Iran is recent remarks made by the country’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during his visit to Tehran.
- The Turkish government has been also endeavoring to promote political and economic ties with Russia despite the wide distance that exists between the two countries’ positions on various issues in the Middle East, including the ongoing crisis in Syria. A recent trip by the Turkish Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] to Russia was further proof to this allegation.
At the same time, there are reasons to explain why Turkey has clearly backed down on the policies it has been pursuing during the past two years. These reasons are also part of the Turkish new foreign minister’s policy which originally aimed to reduce to zero the tension between Turkey and its neighboring countries. These reasons include:
- Resounding failure of all the efforts that the government of Turkey has made in Syria in order to bring about the downfall of the Syrian government;
- The escalation of domestic pressures on the government of Justice and Development Party, headed by Prime Minister Erdogan, following the spillover of the Syrian crisis into Turkey through its southern border;
- The finalization of an agreement between Washington and Moscow for the settlement of the crisis in Syria without recourse to military action and with no regard for the demands put forth by the anti-Syrian regional axis of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar;
- Correct understanding of new conditions in the region by Ankara after the United States decided to change its approach to and policy in the Middle East. The final outcome of that policy change by the United States was Washington’s effort to increase its distance from such reactionary regional countries as Saudi Arabia and other Arab sheikdoms of the region. In pursuit of its new policy, Washington has also decided to reduce its unbridled support for Israel.
- The increasing pressures on the Turkish economy as a result of the prolongation of the ongoing crisis in Syria;
- The fact that Turkey was facing growing tensions and increasing challenges from its Kurdish minority in parallel to the prolongation of the crisis in its southern neighbor;
- The treacherous approach taken by Saudi Arabia toward its regional allies, Turkey and Qatar, by helping to bring about the fall of the former Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi. Morsi enjoyed all-out support of [Turkish Prime Minister] Erdogan. As a result, Saudi Arabia’s treachery caused Ankara’s supportive policy for the new Egyptian government, which had led to the election of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Morsi, ground to failure.
- Iran's unexpected resistance against the West’s crippling sanctions, which finally led to Iran's triumph in the standoff with the West over its nuclear energy program. The final result has been a very bright horizon which has been created for Iran, as a result of that agreement, both in the region and the world.
- Prediction of more future tension in the region between Israel and the United States, on the one hand, and between Saudi Arabia and the United States, on the other hand, has prompted Turkey to try to adopt an independent foreign policy approach based on its own national interests.
- Prediction of possible future conflicts in the region between radical Islamist groups, including Salafi and Takfiri groups, and non-Islamist or moderate Islamist groups, including Shias, has been another reason that has made Turkey change its regional policy toward Syria. There is no doubt that due to being a Muslim country with moderate policies, Turkey is certainly one of the targets of such radical Islamist groups.
- Another reason for Turkey’s change of policy is the need to establish new strategic alliances in the region based on the regional countries’ political, economic and military concerns. Such new alliances will be needed for two purposes. Firstly, they are necessary to confront any existing and forthcoming crises in the Middle East. In doing so, Iran will be certainly taken into account as one of the most important, most powerful and most trustworthy partners. Secondly, such alliances will help Turkey get out of the current state of isolation that it is facing almost on all sides. At present, tension is a major hallmark of the relations that Turkey has with Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, even Israel, and to some extent, Russia.
- Turkey’s interest in getting closer to the main winners of the Syria crisis, including Iran and Russia, is another reason why Ankara has switched tracks on Syria. By doing so, the country’s leaders hope to have a minimal share of the benefits of a peaceful end to Syria crisis and reduce the cost that Turkey will suffer in case Bashar Assad remains in power following the Geneva 2 conference.
Key Words: Turkey, Past Positions, Syria, Geneva 2 Conference, Hassan Rouhani, Erdogan, Salafi and Takfiri Groups, Bashar Assad, Noroozpoor
Source: Khabaronline News Website
http://www.khabaronline.ir/
Translated By: Iran Review.Org