Syria conflict: Turkey's Erdogan issues a 'friendly warning'

[webfact]

Syria conflict: Turkey's Erdogan issues a ‘friendly warning’



ANKARA: -- Turkey renewed calls for a safe zone for refugees in Syria on Wednesday as war continues to tear that country apart.

Images uploaded to social media purportedly showed a double explosion in the eastern Syrian town of Bukamal.

Separately, Syrian state television said the army had fought its way to an airbase near Aleppo that has been under attack from ISIL militants for nearly two years.

Hundreds of soldiers were reported freed from the Kweires airbase, in the most high-profile victory for Syria’s army since Russia launched its air campaign in support of Bashar al-Assad on September 30.

A staunch opponent of Syria’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to use Turkey’s presidency of the G20 to try to persuade allies including Washington against giving Syrian Kurdish rebels a greater role in the fight against ISIL.

Turkey, which opened its air bases in July to the US-led coalition against the so-called Islamic State, sees advances by the Syrian Kurds as a threat to its national security, fearing they could stoke separatism among its own Kurds.

Issuing what he called ‘a friendly warning’ – he didn’t specify to whom – the Turkish president said:

“If you do not take a principled stand against terrorism, at the end this fire will fly back in your face. Those countries who think they are living in confidence and prosperity,should not forget that you never know what can happen tomorrow.”

Speaking at a business meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey’s allies were coming round to the idea of a no-fly zone in Syria, according to Turkish media reports.

Turkey wants world leaders to discuss Syria and Iraq at the G20 summit it is hosting this weekend.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-12

[retarius]

'Principled stand against terrorism" what an ugly hypocrite this fellow is.

[Publicus]

A no-fly zone in Syria would basically shut down the Russians and their air forces there which are bombing rebel forces and are in support of Assad. Erdogan of course opposes Assad and his gang of mass murderers.

So a no-fly zone would be difficult to initiate or to enforce. Imagine some forces present in Syria shooting down Russian fighter jets violating a no fly zone.

[h90]

A no-fly zone in Syria would basically shut down the Russians and their air forces there which are bombing rebel forces and are in support of Assad. Erdogan of course opposes Assad and his gang of mass murderers.

So a no-fly zone would be difficult to initiate or to enforce. Imagine some forces present in Syria shooting down Russian fighter jets violating a no fly zone.

Well both McCain and Ukraine got the idea to deliver anti-aircraft weapons to the Islamists. That would fix the Russians, Assad and get the ISIS into power....

[up2u2]

Turkey has a large Kurdish population. Russia, USA + allies are arming Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIL. Turkey is concerned that once ISIL is defeated (hopefully) the Syrian Kurds will join with Turkish Kurds and point their weapons at Turkey causing a civil war there.

His warning seems to be that actions in Syria may lead to the total destabilisation of Turkey.

It has to be the most complex religious, tribal, political region in the entire World.

[Rancid]

Seems we have both Turkey and Israel lining up to carve up Syria and expand their territories (Golan Heights), no doubt just an unexpected coincidence and nothing to do with having helped create the situation of course.

Will the Russians derail decades of planning, intrigue, propaganda and killing?

[Publicus]

It looks like Erdogan who will host the G-20 meeting Sunday and Monday wants their agreement to a no-fly zone in Syria and to establish a safe refugee zone in northeast Syria, especially for the 2 million of 'em now in Turkey.

Washington and the EU see either or both as impractical. It's highly doubtful Erdogan will get any of what he wants. Washington did say it has stopped arming the particular Syrian Kurds Erdogan is having the most fits about, the YPG of the Syrian PKK. However, the YPG fighters are among the best and most effective against Assad's forces. So they will be armed indirectly by other rebel forces being beefed up by US, Germany, SA, Qatar.

Unreported in the OP was Erdogan's quote about it that: "Anyone ferrying wood to the Syrian fire will find themselves burning. It is a friendly warning," Erdogan said.

Also unreported here is the PM's comments that.....

"If the US wants to arm Kurdish fighters on the ground, we are ready for it. But not terrorists of the PKK. If they want to arm and help Barzani, peshmerga groups in Iraq, and help them to go to Syria to fight against ISIL, we are ready to help," the prime minister said. "We will not and cannot tolerate any help to any PKK-related groups in Syria or in Iraq. If that happens, Turkey will take any measures to stop it," Davutoğlu warned.

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_davutoglu-turkey-ready-to-take-part-in-anti-isil-ground-operation-under-well-designed-strategy_403833.html

Erdogan had already pulled five ambassadors from ME countries and now he's arguing with his generals because they won't go in on the ground in Syria without UN or Nato support, which Erdogan also knows will never come. Turkey is of course a member of Nato but only because the armed forces continue to insist on it, not because Erdogan likes it.

Erdogan meanwhile is trying to fend off the EU and Prez Obama for censoring two newspapers and two tv stations Erdogan says support terrorism. Prez Obama is scheduling a news conference at the summit which would include the four censored media organisations and to talk about press freedom. Emperor Erdogan is not pleased and feels rather imposed upon.

This Erdogan guy is wound tighter than a clock.

So now maybe we should also give Mosul back to ISIL even after we with Kurd forces included drove IS out of Mosul last year.

The Iraq central government has sent back to Turkey and Kuwait a number of planes that belong to Sweden and Canada and were loaded with weapons and ammunition destined for Iraqi Kurds.

Two weeks ago, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen pledged that Germany would continue to provide military supplies and training to Kurdish peshmerga forces fighting against the terrorist group ISIL.

Germany, though not an active partner of the US-led coalition against ISIL, is one of the countries that is directly arming Kurdish forces by providing military supplies and training.

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_iraq-sends-back-arms-loaded-planes-bound-for-kurds_403775.html

Edited November 12, 2015 by Publicus

[simple1]

It looks like Erdogan who will host the G-20 meeting Sunday and Monday wants their agreement to a no-fly zone in Syria and to establish a safe refugee zone in northeast Syria, especially for the 2 million of 'em now in Turkey.

Washington and the EU see either or both as impractical. It's highly doubtful Erdogan will get any of what he wants. Washington did say it has stopped arming the particular Syrian Kurds Erdogan is having the most fits about, the YPG of the Syrian PKK. However, the YPG fighters are among the best and most effective against Assad's forces. So they will be armed indirectly by other rebel forces being beefed up by US, Germany, SA, Qatar.

Unreported in the OP was Erdogan's quote about it that: "Anyone ferrying wood to the Syrian fire will find themselves burning. It is a friendly warning," Erdogan said.

Also unreported here is the PM's comments that.....

"If the US wants to arm Kurdish fighters on the ground, we are ready for it. But not terrorists of the PKK. If they want to arm and help Barzani, peshmerga groups in Iraq, and help them to go to Syria to fight against ISIL, we are ready to help," the prime minister said. "We will not and cannot tolerate any help to any PKK-related groups in Syria or in Iraq. If that happens, Turkey will take any measures to stop it," Davutoğlu warned.

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_davutoglu-turkey-ready-to-take-part-in-anti-isil-ground-operation-under-well-designed-strategy_403833.html

Erdogan had already pulled five ambassadors from ME countries and now he's arguing with his generals because they won't go in on the ground in Syria without UN or Nato support, which Erdogan also knows will never come. Turkey is of course a member of Nato but only because the armed forces continue to insist on it, not because Erdogan likes it.

Erdogan meanwhile is trying to fend off the EU and Prez Obama for censoring two newspapers and two tv stations Erdogan says support terrorism. Prez Obama is scheduling a news conference at the summit which would include the four censored media organisations and to talk about press freedom. Emperor Erdogan is not pleased and feels rather imposed upon.

This Erdogan guy is wound tighter than a clock.

So now maybe we should also give Mosul back to ISIL even after we with Kurd forces included drove IS out of Mosul last year.

The Iraq central government has sent back to Turkey and Kuwait a number of planes that belong to Sweden and Canada and were loaded with weapons and ammunition destined for Iraqi Kurds.

Two weeks ago, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen pledged that Germany would continue to provide military supplies and training to Kurdish peshmerga forces fighting against the terrorist group ISIL.

Germany, though not an active partner of the US-led coalition against ISIL, is one of the countries that is directly arming Kurdish forces by providing military supplies and training.

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_iraq-sends-back-arms-loaded-planes-bound-for-kurds_403775.html

Mosul is held by Daesh.

Edited November 12, 2015 by simple1