Turkey Should Understand There Will Be No Peace in Syria if Assad is Isolated
TEHRAN (Basirat)- Ahead of a possible visit of Russian President Putin to Turkey, Turkish politicians tell Sputnik what changes Ankara should make in its foreign policy to be able to normalize its relationship with Moscow and, more essentially, what countries it should cooperate with in the first place.
Ahead of a possible visit of Russian President Putin to Turkey, Turkish politicians tell Sputnik what changes Ankara should make in its foreign policy to be able to normalize its relationship with Moscow and, more essentially, what countries it should cooperate with in the first place.
Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Wednesday that Moscow "does not rule out" that President Putin might visit Turkey in October.
"When all the preparatory measures are finalized we will make a respective announcement," said the Press Secretary for the Russian President.
Earlier on Wednesday the President of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu aslo said that the Russian leader is expected to pay an official visit to Turkey in October.
His announcement came after Hisacıklıoglu and Turkish businessmen met with Russia's First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexei Likhachev in Moscow.
Hisacıklıoglu said that Vladimir Putin's visit would focus on a number of issues including the Turkish Stream, and restoration of business ties between Turkey and Russia through lifting some restrictions imposed on Turkish businessmen following a jet downing crisis.
Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Wednesday that Moscow "does not rule out" that President Putin might visit Turkey in October.
"When all the preparatory measures are finalized we will make a respective announcement," said the Press Secretary for the Russian President.
Earlier on Wednesday the President of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu aslo said that the Russian leader is expected to pay an official visit to Turkey in October.
His announcement came after Hisacıklıoglu and Turkish businessmen met with Russia's First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexei Likhachev in Moscow.
Hisacıklıoglu said that Vladimir Putin's visit would focus on a number of issues including the Turkish Stream, and restoration of business ties between Turkey and Russia through lifting some restrictions imposed on Turkish businessmen following a jet downing crisis.
Turkey Needs to 'Make U-Turn in Its Foreign Policy, Cooperate With Iran, Iraq'
Meanwhile Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, the chairman of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) said what changes his home country should make in its foreign policy in order to normalize its relationship with Russia.
Meanwhile Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, the chairman of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) said what changes his home country should make in its foreign policy in order to normalize its relationship with Russia.
Speaking at a meeting with representatives of foreign media
institutions in Istanbul on Friday, Kılıcdaroglu said that there have
already been some certain changes in Turkey's foreign policy and, first
of all, it is normalization of its relationship with Russia.
The Turkish politician also noted that there is some certain
progress in the relationship with the Syrian leadership, which Ankara
has recently established contacts with through the intermediary of
different countries.
However he noted that the Turkish officials should make a U-turn in the country's foreign policy and establish relations with Iran and Iraq.
However he noted that the Turkish officials should make a U-turn in the country's foreign policy and establish relations with Iran and Iraq.
Besides, it should give the EU all the guarantees of its further
adherence to the democratic principles and respect towards the human
rights and freedoms.
Answering the question of Sputnik correspondent, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said that he thinks it was an erroneous decision of the Turkish leadership to launch its Euphrates Shield invasion into the Syrian territory.
Answering the question of Sputnik correspondent, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu said that he thinks it was an erroneous decision of the Turkish leadership to launch its Euphrates Shield invasion into the Syrian territory.
"All of us know that the acting Turkish government is rendering
support to the al-Nusra militants," he told Sputnik correspondent.
"The whole world knows about it. President Erdogan has made announcements about the support of al-Nusra militants in its fight against Daesh. The international community is now aware of Turkey's arms supplies to Syria."
"The whole world knows about it. President Erdogan has made announcements about the support of al-Nusra militants in its fight against Daesh. The international community is now aware of Turkey's arms supplies to Syria."
The Turkish politician further said that al-Nusra militants form
part of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which enjoys Ankara's support.
The command center of the FSA was once located in the Turkish territory.
"The deputies of our party once wanted to visit their camp in Hatay province but they were not allowed to because there was an ongoing training of the armed militants. This is the truth which was reflected in the protocols of the parliamentary meetings," he told Sputnik correspondent.
"The deputies of our party once wanted to visit their camp in Hatay province but they were not allowed to because there was an ongoing training of the armed militants. This is the truth which was reflected in the protocols of the parliamentary meetings," he told Sputnik correspondent.
Answering the question of Sputnik correspondent if there is any
potential threat of strengthening the positions of radical Islam in
Turkey, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu noted that the Wahabiite sentiments are
getting momentum in his home country.
"It's a well-known fact that after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, it has been actively exploiting the religious rhetoric in its own purposes and was portraying Islam as a doctrine based on enmity, aggression and strive for revenge," the politician told Sputnik correspondent.
"It's a well-known fact that after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, it has been actively exploiting the religious rhetoric in its own purposes and was portraying Islam as a doctrine based on enmity, aggression and strive for revenge," the politician told Sputnik correspondent.
He further said that AKP government forces the country's population
to forget about such bright and humane sides of the Muslim religion as
love for one’s neighbor, tolerance, respect towards the values of other
religious movements and confessions.
"The AKP is imposing its strategy of political Islam where Wahabiism is playing the leading role," the politician said.
"The AKP is imposing its strategy of political Islam where Wahabiism is playing the leading role," the politician said.
Commenting on the situation in Syria, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu stressed
the importance of a political dialogue with the Syrian government for
the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
"To be able to settle the Syrian crisis, the major players in the region should establish dialogue with President Assad. If Turkey, Iran, Russia, the US and the Syrian authorities insist on the need to protect the Syrian territorial integrity, they should unite their efforts at the negotiation table to be able to find an effective solution to the crisis," he said.
"To be able to settle the Syrian crisis, the major players in the region should establish dialogue with President Assad. If Turkey, Iran, Russia, the US and the Syrian authorities insist on the need to protect the Syrian territorial integrity, they should unite their efforts at the negotiation table to be able to find an effective solution to the crisis," he said.
Russia and the US understand that it is impossible to reach peace
in Syria by isolating Assad from the negotiation process, he said. Now
Turkey should understand this as well.
Only the Syrian people should decide who should be the head of their home country, the politician said.
"We are advocating the soonest stop of the bloodshed and restoration of peace and stability in Syria, either with or without Assad. And urge the international community to make due contributions to be able to achieve this goal," he finally said.
"We are advocating the soonest stop of the bloodshed and restoration of peace and stability in Syria, either with or without Assad. And urge the international community to make due contributions to be able to achieve this goal," he finally said.
Commenting on the situation in Syria, former Turkish diplomat and
former ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu noted that the Russian
authorities repeatedly said that Turkey should carry out its military
operation in Syria in accordance with the norms of the international
law.
"It means that before launching of its military operation Ankara should have obtained either the respective decision of the UN Security Council or the consent of the Syrian leadership," he told Sputnik.
"It means that before launching of its military operation Ankara should have obtained either the respective decision of the UN Security Council or the consent of the Syrian leadership," he told Sputnik.
However Turkey claims that in conditions of the increasing
terrorist threat from Daesh it has exercised its right for the
self-defense, he said.
"I think that such operations should be stopped. Syria desperately needs the cessation of the military actions and the ceasefire," the former diplomat said.
"I think that such operations should be stopped. Syria desperately needs the cessation of the military actions and the ceasefire," the former diplomat said.
Turkey, Russia and the US should make every effort to restore the peace talks set forth by Geneva agreements.
Syria needs peace and no additional fighting, Faruk Logoglu noted.
Syria needs peace and no additional fighting, Faruk Logoglu noted.
"That is why I think it is an erroneous strategy to seek any
military advantage in Syria. It is only too evident that it does not
bring any constructive results. It will not end the war. Therefore the
emphasis should be put on the diplomatic settlement of the crisis," he
explained.
The former diplomat added that the ceasefire agreement reached by
Russia and the US was a vital step in the process however it abruptly
failed.
The situation on the ground has recently deteriorated and it is practically impossible to deliver any humanitarian aid.
"Thus it is very important to focus the attention on the diplomatic efforts. I hope that during Vladimir Putin's trip to Turkey Moscow and Ankara will be able to work out certain ways of reaching ceasefire in Syria and settling the Syrian crisis," Faruk Logoglu finally stated.
The situation on the ground has recently deteriorated and it is practically impossible to deliver any humanitarian aid.
"Thus it is very important to focus the attention on the diplomatic efforts. I hope that during Vladimir Putin's trip to Turkey Moscow and Ankara will be able to work out certain ways of reaching ceasefire in Syria and settling the Syrian crisis," Faruk Logoglu finally stated.
