After failing in Syria, will Turkey stand behind inciting protests in Adlib?

Sarah Rashad

 An article published in Ahval News Online by Ertugrul Gunay, who served as culture and tourism minister from 2007 to 2013, said Turkey is doomed to failure regarding the fulfillment of its role according to the ‘Sochi’ agreement with Russia.

A deal was struck between Russian and Turkey to establish a demilitarized zone between the Syrian government and rebel forces and joint patrols to enforce the compromise.

The agreement, forged in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi between Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian president Vladimir Putin, allows Turkey to strengthen its 12 observation posts, establish a 15-20km-wide demilitarized zone along the Turkish-Syrian border and have all warring sides withdrawing from the area by October 10.

Syrian activist Omar Rahmon also tweeted that Turkey failed to establish the 20km demilitarized zone, affirming a military solution for the Syrian crisis and the liberation of Adlib.

The Syrian activist relied in his assumption that Turkey failed on the refusal of militant groups to the agreement. The two major groups, Tahrir al-Sham, an active Salafist jihadist militant group, and Jaysh al-Izza rebel group, refused the agreement.

Jaysh al-Izza (Army of Glory) issued a two-page statement on Sept. 25 stating reasons behind its refusal to the agreement, including the deployment of Russian patrols around the area, which indicates that the Syrian regime would stay.

Moreover, the National Front for Liberation also refused the agreement for the same reason, however, it announced that during a meeting with a Turkish official, Turkey pledged that Russian patrols would not exist in the demilitarized zone.

Turkey faces a dire challenge in representing all factions to adhere to terms of the agreement.

According to sources, Turkey offered the groups a plan to convince them to cooperate, which consists of handing over their weapons and organizing more protests against the Syrian regime.

Relying on protests in Adlib brings the Syrian crisis back to square one in 2011 when countries supporting terrorists promoted that the Syrian regime uses brutality against protestors.

An Adlib resident, Moa’az Abdulkarim also told The Reference in an interview that protests are being organized every week by armed factions, and not by civilians, who are being used by these groups. He also added that these groups hold meetings with civilians and residents to convince them to participate and organize these protests against the regime.

Nourhan al-Sheikh, a political science professor at Cairo University, said Turkey, along with the international community, is betting on the humanitarian side, and that proofs to condemn the Syrian regime will always be present.

She also pointed out that the agreement aims at separating civilians and targeting terrorists, and that it will gain a temporary agreement.

Al-Sheikh stressed that the Syrian crisis will only be resolved through a military solution, which Turkey prolongs, because it would be against Ankara’s interests.

She added that the National Front for Liberation is being pressured by Turkey and its allies to agree to the agreement.