President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan meets with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow on Sept. 23. (Photo: Cihan)
Istanbul (AFP) - Russia's bombing campaign in Syria is a "grave mistake" and its support for the regime will be judged by history, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Sunday.
"The steps Russia is taking and the bombing campaign in Syria are quite unacceptable to Turkey," Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport before leaving for a visit to France.
"(...) Unfortunately, Russia is making a grave mistake," he said.
Given Moscow's friendly relations with Turkey, its actions in Syria are "worrying and disturbing," Erdogan said.
The strikes will "isolate Russia in the region," he predicted.
WNU Editor: It is not only Russia supporting Syrian President Assad, it also involves Russia supporting the Kurds. The Turks were able to influence Washington to not supply weapons to the Kurds to fight the Islamic State .... but Russia has made it very clear that they do not feel obligated to listen to Turkish President Erdogan .... Russia Sending Arms To The Kurds Battling The Islamic State .... and that is what is unnerving Erdogan's government. Turkey's political support over the years for various Islamic radical groups in the Caucasus has also damaged its credibility with Moscow .... and I am sure that this is going to be brought up when Erdogan meets Putin in the future.
More News On Turkey Condemning Russia's Military Involvement In Syria
Turkey's Erdogan calls Russian airstrikes in Syria 'unacceptable' -- AP
Erdogan: Russia making ‘grave mistake’ in Syria -- AFP
Erdoğan questions Russian motives in Syria, says will ask Putin to reconsider air strikes -- Sunday's Zaman
Erdogan criticizes Russia for strikes on moderate opposition in Syria -- Al Bawaba
Turkish President Erdoğan Warns Russia Over Syria -- Bas news
Russia is making a grave mistake in Syria, says Turkish President Erdoğan -- Daily Sabah
Turkey's Erdogan Wondering about Russian Action in Syria -- Novinite
Erdogan: Russia made a 'serious mistake' in Syria -- Middle East Monitor
Erdogan Intends to Discuss Russian Military Operation in Syria With Putin -- Sputnik
As Russia raises the stakes in Syria, what role can Turkey now play? -- Al Arabiya
3 comments:
I don't doubt this was part of the calculation. I guess Putin decided Turkey wasn't going to be our friend anyway; after all, they were already making anti-Russian noises with regards to other recent conflagrations, while we have always had a good relationship with Armenia (even if a colour revolution happens there it won't be anti-Russian). And now the Kurds.
Sultan Erdogan knows the gig is up. If anyone has made a gigantic blunder, it's him. Meddling in Syria and thinking he'd get away with it without repercussions could make one wonder about his sanity.
Refugees, a renewed conflict with the Kurds, political instability, and a recalcitrant EU-- no one seriously wants the Turks in-- are just some of the issues sinking the Sultan's ship. China is on his case too and that's the one he should really be concerned about.
NATO membership or no NATO membership, I have a hard time believing anyone will go to the wire for the Sultan. He blew it and, like Captain Chaos in Washington, he's out of his depth. Putin and the new coalition will eat him alive.
A large Pan Turkic country was not part of the calculation today, but it always lurks in the background.
If Iran were to break up and the different Central Asian Turks were able to set aside differences, it would be a worry. It is far off, but some people think of it occasionally just like the Pan Slavic, pan Germanic, Latinos, Anzania and other groups.
Post a Comment