Striking comment on the rapprochement between Turkey and Syria: Erdogan’s goal…

Robert Ford, a diplomat known as the last US ambassador to Syria and known to the Turkish public, wrote an analysis for the Arab media. The Turkish public has often been on the agenda in the past with Ford’s analysis and statements on Turkey-Syria relations.

Noting that there were some reactions and demonstrations against the rapprochement between the Assad government and Turkey in some parts of Syria last week, Ford said: “Maybe I am very skeptical and made mistakes while working in Syria, but my answer is short: The rapprochement between the two countries is a political game between the Turks in the election year and President Erdogan’s goal here is to gain a little more advantage in Turkey’s critical interests,” he said.

Stating that the elections will be difficult for Erdoğan, Ford said: “One of the agenda items in Turkish politics is to restart relations with Syria. Erdogan should progress, at least at the beginning. Remember this word: progress. After the meeting of the defense ministers of Russia, Turkey and Syria, the three foreign ministers will also meet. Perhaps the leaders of the three countries can meet before the elections. Erdogan can say that there is progress here,” he said.
“ESAD DOES NOT LOVE ERDOGAN”

In the article published in the Arab media, “Meanwhile, Assad does not like Erdogan and does not trust him. The Russians are pressuring Assad to agree to advance, and Assad will expect a reward from them. The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates visited Damascus and perhaps tried to persuade Assad to agree to this meeting. This reminded me of the process the Bush and Clinton administrations went through 30 years ago when they focused on the Israel-Palestine peace talks. There were many working groups, aid packages and conversations with Israelis and Palestinians.

Ford, however, recalled that only concessions, concessions and difficult decisions emerged as a result of negotiations between Palestine and Israel, commenting: “Neither Damascus nor Ankara allow concessions or concessions.”