Sochi meeting a glimmer of hope for peace in Syria

Syrian's seven-year civil war is full of long gaps between international attempts to stop the violence and protect civilians from the horrors of conflict. At a time when most countries are concerned not over the welfare of Syrians and are instead preventing them from making it to safety in Europe or elsewhere, the U.S. is involved in pouring fuel on the fire by arming a terrorist group in another example of proxy wars ruining states around the world.

کد خبر: ۷۵۰۰۷۰

تاریخ: ۰۴ آذر ۱۳۹۶ - ۰۸:۵۲

The significant step taken by Turkey, Russia and Iran this week in Sochi provides a glimpse into how peace may be established in Syria and is an example of how local partners can produce solutions to regional upheavals.

The incompetence displayed by international institutions was one of the main reasons why the Syrian conflict escalated and has lasted so long. It was too naïve to expect them to provide a solution, but they could have at least not made things worse. The dialogue established between Turkey, Russia and Iran, which has allowed the Astana talks to advance, provides a new way to resolve regional conflicts.

While it is too early to pronounce it a success, the Astana talks are a serious and honest effort by participating countries to put their differences aside and work to achieve peace. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, together with Russian and Iranian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani, in a joint press conference, introduced a road map for peace that will allow all groups exhausted by war to negotiate peace under the guarantorship of these three countries.

Turkey drew a redline against the participation of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorist group, which is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK. While legitimate representatives of Syrian Kurds are welcome to join the Syrian national congress scheduled to take place in Sochi, there can be no place for a violent terrorist group at the peace table.

Idlib was one area where all three guarantor countries agreed. The 12 armed groups that control the city right now, with 15 other paramilitary groups linked to local tribes, will need orientation and guidance. Turkey currently has established a few military installations in the region to keep tabs on developments in Afrin, and asked for and received Russian and Iranian promises of help to persuade armed groups in Idlib that reject any sort of armistice.

Turkey's biggest concern is the possibility of the PYD being seen as a representative of Syrian Kurds. Turkey insists that the PYD's People's Protection Units' (YPG) control over Afrin, right next to the Turkish border, is unacceptable and is considering a military operation to free the region. Afrin, an Arab-majority city, is currently under the control of YPG militants who pose a serious threat to Turkey. Turkey and Russia may undertake a joint operation to rid the Afrin region of terrorists.

Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield cut the region under YPG control in two, and now the priority is to prevent any access to the Mediterranean Sea. While its concerns are acknowledged behind closed doors, Ankara needs more than words. There are strong forces that are trying to prevent the success of the cooperation between Turkey, Russia and Iran. They will do everything in their power to see it fail, even if it means Syrians continue to suffer. No one should forget that the PYD and YPG and their American patrons would be the main losers if the Sochi process succeeds and the two continue their weapons buildup in northern Syria.

Still, Syrians need Turkey, Russia and Iran to succeed to put an end to the bloodshed that has killed several hundreds of thousands of people since 2011.