The territorial integrity of Syria is an outdated concept that needs to be disposed of. Such a statement was made by publicist Hakki Ocal in a publication for the Turkish publication Daily Sabah.
According to him, Ankara, being the guarantor of the settlement of the Syrian armed conflict, should pursue its own interests, which, however, run counter to the interests of official Damascus. Thus, the journalist sharply criticized the attempts of the Syrian government with the support of Russia to defeat the militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone.
In particular, he drew attention to the fact that in the region there are not only full-fledged terrorist groups, such as “Khayyat Tahrir al-Sham,” but also the so-called “moderate opposition”. The latter is distinguished from terrorists only by a radical anti-government position. Despite this, Ocal says she is a victim of “double standards” because Damascus and Moscow, aiming to put an end to the war, allegedly call the terrorists “anyone who is a follower of the Sunni Islamic movement with arms in their hands.”
At the same time, the journalist immediately proceeds to the essence of his accusations. The fact is that the defeat of jihadists in Syrian Idlib can end for Turkey with an influx of about 4 million refugees, among whom militants can take refuge. Hakki Ocal advises Ankara to nip a similar prospect. If for Russia the defeat of radical groups in Syria is more important than the migration threat for Turkey, Ankara, the author claims, “can find other ways to achieve its political goal.”
“It is likely that Turkey will have to change its approach regarding Syria,” he says, stressing that “divided Syria” is most beneficial for Ankara. He assures that only in this way will it be possible to restrain the flow of refugees.
“Everything happens just like this when you become free from the cliches of tyranny, for example, such as the“ territorial integrity of Syria, ” Ocal said.