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| Map: balkaneu.com |
Ankara is very concerned at the possibility of an autonomous Kurdish state being directly proclaimed in northern Syria. PYD rebels (offshoot of the PKK in Syria) occupied the town of Ras al-Ein, the final stronghold of Syrian opposition in northern Syria. Kurds now are in complete control of the entire northern part of the country.
This particular town is situated just beside the border with Turkey. A few days ago, the Federation of Turkish Organizations (KCK) had said it was preparing to “declare an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria”.
Zaman daily says “in this way the Kurdish plan for a Kurdistan of four regions is proceeding”, meaning the areas populated by Kurds in northern Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey!
Upheaval was caused in Ankara as the overthrow of Asad whom the Turkish government strongly supported, has become a boomerang now that a second autonomous Kurdish area is being created right next to Kurdish populated southeastern Turkey. This raises fears because it provides an example of autonomy to Kurdish population.
Sources say Kurdish rebels have occupied areas with many oil wells.
On Thursday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul held a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Armed Forces Chief to discuss developments in the region and to determine Turkey’s response.
- Ahmet Davutoglu had stated that “if the PKK gained sovereignty of even a small area, even a village, we would consider this a risk factor as it promotes terrorism. We will not allow the formation of terrorist pockets near our borders”.
The headline of Turkish newspaper Vatan reads: “Alarm at the border” as the paper reports the Turkish army is gathering forces at the border with Syria since “norther Syria is controlled by the PYD”. The same paper also says Turkish fighter planes are flying at low altitude to threaten the Kurds.
Τürkiye newspaper is headlined “Autonomy alarm”.
- See more at: http://www.balkaneu.com
19/7/13
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Turkey won’t accept fait accompli attempts in Syria, FM Davutoğlu says...
ReplyDeleteAny de facto or fait accompli attempts based on ethnicity within Syria would cause bigger crises and Turkey cannot accept this, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said, in an apparent reference to the recent capture of border town by People’s Defense Units (YPG), the militant wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), units.
“Any such attempts - de facto or fait accompli - within Syria would increase the existing fragility in the country and cause more intense fighting,” Davutoğlu told reporters in a press conference with his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos. The PYD, which is affiliated to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), captured the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ayn after fighting with al-Nusra militants, and reportedly raised its flag in the town center.
Davutoğlu noted that this should be the decision of Parliament, which would be elected by the people, to decide what unitary groups will be formed in Syria. “Everyone needs to avoid these kind of de facto situations until the elected Parliament is formed,” he said, also accusing the al-Assad regime of fanning tension. “It is likely that al-Assad regime took tactical steps to play off the Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen or different ethnic and sectarian groups against each other. No one should be deceived or cheated by this,” he said.
Davutoğlu also said Turkey had taken “all necessary measures” against any kind of attacks that threaten its security, referring to the clashes between the YPG and al-Nusra. “Turkey will respond instantly to any kind of possible threats, no matter where they come from,” he said.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-wont-accept-fait-accompli-attempts-in-syria-fm-davutoglu-says.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51040&NewsCatID=338
19/7/13
Recognizing de facto situations in Syria carries great risk...
ReplyDeleteTurkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu said Assad regime's recognition of de facto situations would further deteriorate clashes.
ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "Syria's future and the kind of political structure would be decided by the parliament elected by Syria's own people. Until that structure is formed, everybody should keep away from de facto situations and accomplished facts. This will create a greater risk."
Speaking at the joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos in Ankara on Friday, Davutoglu said, "Turkey will continue to take every measure for the security of its borders and citizens," and added, "Regardless of its source and reason, Turkey will continue to respond every kind of threats directed against its border security immediately."
Upon the question about the claims of Bashar Assad's recognition of Ras Al Ayn, a town in Syria's Turkey border seized by a terrorist organization, as an autonomous region, Davutoglu said that certain circles tried to misuse the gap emerged inSyria because of the clashes in Homs.
"Already there is a very fragile and high tense civil war situation in Syria. Efforts to create any kind of fait accompli or de facto situations would further deteriotate the situation," said Davutoglu.
Davutoglu said that the Syrian regime might take steps to play off Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens against each other, and continued, "Noone should be deceived by tending towards such accomplished facts, which will lead to more intensive clashes, rather than gaining recognition."
He added, "We always said that it was not possible to accept any kind of ethnical or secterian de facto situations in Syria, which would pave the way for greater problems. However, Syria's future and the kind of political structure would be decided by the parliament elected by Syria's own people. Until that structure is formed, everybody should keep away from de facto situations and accomplished facts. This will create a greater risk."
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/205806--recognizing-de-facto-situations-in-syria-carries-great-risk
19/7/13
PYD leader in visit to Turkey proposes formation of provisional council until political solution ...
ReplyDeleteThe leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Saleh Muslim, who is currently on an unexpected visit to Turkey, has said the Syrian Kurds will seek a "new status" in the new political system to be established in Syria.
Muslim also emphasized the need for a provisional council in the territory controlled by Kurds in northern Syria, which could also comprise Arabs, Syriacs and Turkmens, to ensure governance until the two-year-long conflict reaches a settlement.
"By all means, Kurds will need to have a status in the new order in Syria. But what's in question now is a provisional arrangement until we arrive at that phase. It's not about making a Constitution, but practical rules are necessary," he told Anadolu Agency July 27.
He added that as the main Kurdish group in northern Syria, they weren't intending to "impose" anything on anybody. "No decision has been taken yet. Our thought is to establish a provisional council of 40-50, maybe a hundred people. This council will comprise Kurds, Syriacs, Arabs and Turkmens. They will choose the provisional administration from among themselves," he added.
The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)-affiliated PYD has increased its control in the north of Syria after violent clashes between its armed wing and the al-Qaeda-linked al Nusra-Front for over a week.
Turkish officials have expressed strong concerns about the "fait accompli" imposition of a de facto autonomous Kurdish region in the north of Syria. The developments prompted the government to hold an emergency meeting on July 24, which was followed by Muslim's surprise talks.
Meetings with senior Foreign Ministry officials
Muslim confirmed that he had held talks with Foreign Ministry and other senior officials on the recent developments in northern Syria.
"We met first degree officials from the Foreign Ministry and other senior officials. We held talks on various issues. We were already close to each other. [Foreign Minister Ahmet] Davutoğlu had some positive statements. The al-Nusra Front is pursuing a war against us. This is very important and we discussed it with Turkey," Muslim said, stressing that the provisional rule they were intending to establish was causing "misunderstandings" in Ankara.....http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pyd-leader-in-visit-to-turkey-proposes-formation-of-provisional-council-until-political-solution.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51519&NewsCatID=338
27/7/13
Assad: Turkey to “Pay Dearly” for Supporting Terrorists...
ReplyDeleteSyrian President Bashar a;-Assad lashed out at Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for supporting terrorists engaged in the fight against Damascus, saying that Ankara will “pay dearly” for its contribution in the ongoing conflict.
"In the near future these terrorists will have an impact on Turkey. And Turkey will pay very dearly for its contribution," Assad said an interview to be broadcast Friday on Turkish television.
"It is not possible to use terrorism as a card and put it in your pocket. Because it is like a scorpion which won't hesitate to sting you at any moment," he told the opposition station Halk TV.
He was being interviewed over the presence of Al-Qaeda-linked rebels on the long and volatile border between the two nations.
"It is not possible to use terrorism as a card and put it in your pocket. Because it is like a scorpion which won't hesitate to sting you at any moment," said Assad.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has become one of the most fervent supporters of armed groups fighting the Syrian government.
"All that he says about Syria and its people is a heap of lies, that is all... Erdogan is doing nothing but supporting the terrorists," said Assad.
The Syrian leader again denied having perpetrated a chemical weapons attack outside Damascus in August.
He said his country's arsenal of chemical weapons -- to be destroyed under a United Nations resolution -- were in the hands of special forces who were the only ones capable of using them.
"Preparing these weapons is a complex technical operation... and a special procedure is necessary to use them which requires a central order from the army chief of staff. As a result it is impossible that they were used."
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=114124&cid=23&fromval=1
4/10/13