Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

US might be spoiling factor of Syrian truce if it remains off the table

by Ali Ünal

ANKARA Dec 24, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Ali Ünal Dec 24, 2016 12:00 am
Efforts to establish a permanent cease-fire in Syria have gained new momentum since Russia, Turkey and Iran reached an agreement on Dec. 20 in Moscow. According to the adopted statement these three key nations will act as "guarantors" for the future of Syria, however, it is still not certain that a permanent peace can be established by excluding the U.S at the Syrian table.

Even though the U.S. did not accept that they had been "sidelined" for the Syria talks, U.S. officials did eventually admit that the U.S foreign policy in Syria has been unable to effectively produce any results: "We are not excluded, we are not being sidelined," U.S State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Dec. 20. However, two days later Kirby admitted that the U.S has not implemented a successful Syria policy. "Our diplomatic efforts have not been successful in terms of getting us to a political transition where the voice of the Syrian people can be heard and can realize a better, safer, unified Syria," he said on Dec. 22.

Meanwhile Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Dec. 23 that the evacuation of opposition fighters from Aleppo was complete, creating the conditions for a cease-fire deal in Syria "In my view we are very close to achieving an agreement on a full cease-fire across the territory of Syria," Shoigu said. In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday he expected new Syria peace talks backed by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran to take place in the middle of January in Kazakhstan.

Commenting on these developments, Dr. Bora Bayraktar of Istanbul Kültür University said even the joint declaration by Turkey, Russia and Iran indicate that the U.S. is left out of the process. "The most important article of this joint declaration between the three countries is Article 5. The article states that Iran, Russia and Turkey are to guide and guarantee the implementation of the agreement that is being negotiated between the Syrian government/regime and the opposition. This indicates that the U.S. is left out of this equation" said Bayraktar. Expressing that the U.S. might try to influence the process in Syria through the Democratic Union Party- (PYD) controlled area of northern Syria, Bayraktar added that the U.S.'s return to the existing equation depends on the political disposition and the policies of its new administration: "These three countries have made it clear with the joint declaration that they are the main political actors which will shape Syria's future. However, in order to see to what extent the U.S. will be active and effective in this issue, first we have to observe the Syrian policies of the Trump administration."

Underscoring that the U.S.'s vested interest in the PYD, which is only active in northern Syria, limited U.S. cooperation with her groups and caused a divergence with Turkey, Can Acun of Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) signified that the U.S.'s exclusion might endanger a permanent resolution in Syria. "The U.S. is still a prominent actor and it would be challenging to enforce a permanent ceasefire which may lead to a permanent political resolution without the U.S. inclusion. The U.S. is seemingly out of the equation in Syria now; however, if they want to they might hamper the process with not-so-constructive action."

According to Acun, Turkey, Iran and Russia will first try to reach a consensus on the outline of a resolution and then the aforementioned three countries will try to include the U.S. in this plan.
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    1st day of Türkiye's Aegean Rally ends
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021