Stunning Erdogan-Assad Comment From Former US Ambassador To Damascus
As Turkey flags a ground operation in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement: “There may be a meeting with Assad, there is no hard feelings in politics. Ultimately, we will take action under appropriate conditions” remains on the agenda.
One very striking comment on the debate came from the last US ambassador to Damascus, Robert Ford. Ford, in his article published in the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, used the headline “Peace between Turkey and Syria is still a long way off.” Robert Ford, one of the most dominant US figures in the region, drew attention to the news that Russia is trying to arrange a meeting between Erdogan and Assad, saying: “I don’t expect to see a picture of Erdogan serious shaking hands with a smiling Assad in Moscow anytime soon”.
‘THEY AGREE ON ONE THING’
The former US envoy, who wrote that the only issue Erdogan and Assad agreed on was “an objection to the autonomy of Kurdish groups in Syria,” said in Astana, where Turkey met last month with “Assad’s allies” Russia. and Iran, territories of Syria. he dispute recalled that he reiterated his support for his integrity.
Ford also stated that the US-backed terrorist organization PKK/PYD/YPG in Syria follows a policy of balancing between the US, Russia and Assad to avoid a possible ground operation by Turkey. He wrote that he avoided fighting. On the other hand, Ford commented that reviving the 1998 Adana Agreement would not lead to a rapprochement between Turkey and Syria, and that there were more serious problems between the two countries than 25 years ago.
‘ESAD DOES NOT HAVE TO MEET ERDOGAN’
Noting that no significant progress was made in bilateral relations after MIT Director Hakan Fidan’s visit to Damascus in September, Robert Ford declared that Bashar Assad would not accept the establishment of a buffer zone for refugees under Turkish control in Syria.
The former US ambassador to Damascus wrote that there are serious problems between Turkey and Syria on issues such as refugees and the Syrian opposition. “According to the news, Assad is in no hurry to meet with his old friend Erdogan and give him political support,” Ford said, adding: “He is watching the strong Turkish opposition attack all of Erdogan’s Syria policy. The opposition parties call for a quick political opening with Damascus. Assad probably hopes to more easily destroy Turkey’s support for opposition fighters if the opposition wins Turkey’s June elections. That is why he politely declined Putin’s offer to take a photo with Erdogan.”