Baghdad is close to decoding the Turkish-Syrian dispute.. Erdogan announces readiness and Assad does

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[size=52]Baghdad is close to decoding the Turkish-Syrian dispute.. Erdogan announces readiness and Assad does not object[/size]

[size=45]After a decade of disagreement, argument, and even bloodshed, between Syria and Turkey, signs have recently begun to appear on the horizon for a solution to the dispute between these two conflicting countries, at a time when the capital, Baghdad, has topped the list of those initiating an end to the lean years between Damascus and Ankara, a matter that was welcomed by Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.[/size]
[size=45]According to Syrian political analyst Ghassan Youssef, there are “attempts to restore relations between Syria and Turkey, and efforts are ongoing in this regard,” adding that “if the intentions are sincere on the Turkish side, we will reach positive results.”[/size]
[size=45]Youssef points out that “the Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory, the dismantling of terrorism, and the agreement and cooperation between Damascus and Ankara to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish entity in northeastern Syria are the most important requirements for the Syrian state to reconcile with Turkey.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The Syrian position is positive and open to all initiatives, provided that the unity and sovereignty of Syrian territory is preserved."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that “Baghdad plays a vital role in this matter, and this role has received praise from Syria and Turkey,” explaining that “Iraq is harmed by the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in its north and harmed by the presence of Turkish forces in the Kurdistan region, as well as harmed by the cutting off of the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates, and this intersects with Syria, which suffers from the Turkish occupation, the cutting off of water, and the presence of the Workers’ Party.”[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "Therefore, Iraq is the most prepared country to play this role because it has good relations with Russia, America, Iran, and the regional environment in general," considering that "the Iraqi role is pioneering and qualified to play the role of mediator in normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations."[/size]
[size=45]*An important role for Baghdad[/size]
[size=45]In the same context, Syrian political analyst Nizar Bush stresses the pivotal and important role played by Baghdad with Moscow in bringing Syrian-Turkish viewpoints closer together.[/size]
[size=45]Bush says, “Normalizing relations between Turkey and Syria will bring positive results for both countries,” indicating that “the Syrian state’s condition for this rapprochement is that it be based on positive results such as normalizing relations and the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria, in addition to economic and commercial cooperation, the return of displaced Syrians, the return of Syrian lands in the north to Syrian authority, and the fight against terrorism in cooperation between Syria, Russia, Turkey, and Iraq.”[/size]
[size=45]He said, "Meeting and shaking hands for the sake of media and photos is not satisfactory to the Syrian side."[/size]
[size=45]Bush continues, "Iraq is exposed to terrorist acts and Turkish attacks on its territory, and it will obtain positive results if the Syrian-Turkish rapprochement occurs."[/size]
[size=45]*The lion's position[/size]
[size=45]Earlier, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad revealed that he is ready to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, if it is in the country's interest.[/size]
[size=45]"If the meeting leads to results, or if the hug or the reprimand... serves the country's interest, then I will do it," Assad told reporters on the sidelines of his vote in the legislative elections.[/size]
[size=45]Assad added: “But the problem does not lie here (..) but in the content of the meeting,” wondering about the meaning of any meeting that does not discuss the “withdrawal” of Turkish forces from northern Syria.[/size]
[size=45]He explained that "there is no thought of problems with the neighbors, but this does not mean that we go without rules."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Assad added: “Some people talk about conditions, we do not set conditions, and some people talk about demands, perhaps in a more toned-down language than conditions, and we do not set demands. So what we are talking about is not conditions or demands, it is requirements, and the term is different.”[/size]
[size=45]In response to a question about “guarantees from mediating countries,” Assad said: “They did not provide us with any guarantees, so we are proceeding positively but based on clear principles, not just principles. The principles are international law and sovereignty.”[/size]
[size=45]Assad continued, "If we do not achieve positive results, the results will be negative. Some say you will not lose anything. No, in this case we either win or we lose. On the joint level, we, Turkey and the allies, everyone wins or everyone loses. There is no middle ground. Therefore, when we emphasize the principles and requirements, this stems from our keenness to ensure the success of the operation."[/size]
[size=45]*Erdogan's position[/size]
[size=45]On July 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that his country was waiting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to take a step to improve relations with it, so that it would respond “appropriately.”[/size]
[size=45]The Turkish president said in this regard: “We have now reached a stage where once Bashar al-Assad takes a step to improve relations with Turkey, we will take the initiative to respond appropriately.”[/size]
[size=45]He explained that Russian President Vladimir Putin has an approach to the meeting between Erdogan and Assad, and that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also has an approach.[/size]
[size=45]He added: "We are talking here about mediation, so what is wrong with it with our neighbor?"[/size]
[size=45]He continued: "We will extend our invitation to Assad, and it may be at any moment, and we hope to restore Turkish-Syrian relations to what they were in the past."[/size]
[size=45]*What is behind the emergence of the name Baghdad?[/size]
[size=45]Baghdad has good relations with the Syrian regime as well as with Türkiye.[/size]
[size=45]Iraqi political analyst, Haitham Al-Hiti, believes that “the shape of the future Iraqi capital between Syria, Lebanon, Iran and the United States of America will greatly resemble the role played by the Sultanate of Oman in the process of reconciliation between the Gulf States and Iran.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The Sultanate of Oman was a negotiating center between all opponents, and now Baghdad is taking on a similar role in the Middle East."[/size]
[size=45]If Baghdad engages in the process that has been ongoing since the beginning of 2022, it will be the third mediating party of its kind, after Russia and Iran.[/size]
[size=45]But on the other hand, with regard to the “Syrian Constitutional Committee,” comments by opposition members indicate a state of adherence to holding the track’s meetings in Geneva.[/size]
[size=45]Hassan Al-Hariri, a member of the “mini-committee” of the Constitutional Committee, considers the regime’s emphasis on the necessity of resuming the committee in Baghdad to be a “maneuver” and an attempt to show that they are in harmony with the constitutional process and agree with it positively.[/size]
[size=45]*Stumbling convergence precedents[/size]
[size=45]The foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Iran and Syria had previously met in Moscow within the “quadruple formula” in May 2023, after a series of meetings between the heads of the countries’ intelligence services and defense ministers. However, despite these efforts, Turkey’s efforts were hindered by Assad’s statement that “Erdogan’s goal is to legitimize the presence of the Turkish occupation in Syria.”[/size]
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