The contacts between Tehran and Ankara on the Syrian issue have started/we must insult Israel before Türkiye!

Mehr News Agency, International Group – Azar Mahdavan: Syrian developments that led to the fall of the Damascus government and the exit of “Bashar Assad” From this country, there are different speculations style=”background-color:#ffffff”> About the future of the region and its impact on Type has created relations between Iran and Turkey. Although according to some analysts, the recent developments in Syria will cause tension between Ankara and Tehran, but there are experts who believe that the Syrian crisis can create a platform for cooperation between the two countries. shape more than before.

On the other hand, the Syrian political scene currently is going through a difficult situation and many actors are present They want to take advantage of this situation for their benefit, but whatever the upper hand of Turkey in the recent developments in Syria, it is not a favorable event for the Arab countries!

Reporter Mehr with the aim of investigating the conditions The current situation in Syria and the impact of these developments in the region and the relationship between Iran and Turkey, he conducted a conversation with “Mohammed Farazmand”, the former ambassador of Iran in Ankara, which is explained below.

The Syrian case is the most important issue on which Iran and Turkey have experienced a deep difference in approach. But despite all the conflicting approaches, both countries have the ability to manage the differences and have not allowed these tensions to cloud the relations between the two neighbors. Even in spite of all the differences, they took a step towards cooperation on the Syrian issue. For example, the holding of the meetings of the Astana process was a sign and symbol of the cooperation between the two countries in the Syrian issue, but now the situation in this country has changed. Considering this issue, in your opinion, what kind of evolution will we witness in the relations between Ankara and Tehran from now on?

As ​​you know, Iran and Turkey have very long-standing relations, it must be said that the oldest diplomatic relations in the region have been established between Iran and Turkey; If we take a look at the history, we will find out that the presence of the Turks in Anatolia was prepared through Iran. A branch of Seljuk Turks of Iran in Anatolia formed the Seljuk Empire of Rome. These relations go back about a thousand years and have never been broken. Despite the ups and downs, the two nations and governments of Iran and Türkiye have been in contact with each other.

Even in the new era of diplomacy that started in the middle of the 19th century, Iran and Turkey were among the first countries to establish embassies.

Of course, we had political envoys before the 19th century, it is interesting to know that Amir Kabir was one of the envoys who, before the establishment of relations between the two countries, spent about three years at the head of the Iranian negotiating team in Erzurum was engaged in border negotiations with the Ottoman government. As you know, Iran’s western borders are the result of negotiations known as “Arzeneh” . After the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s relationship with Turkey was a part of Tehran’s foreign relations, in which we rarely see ups and downs.

As ​​you mentioned, after 2011, the issue of Syria and the differences of opinion between the two countries in the developments in Syria had an impact on the relations between Iran and Turkey, but with Paying attention to the importance of Syria for Turkey as a neighboring country and the importance of this country as the foundations of the axis of resistance for Iran, despite the differences of opinion, both countries succeeded with the presence of the third country, Russia, the most important and effective mechanism Regarding the crisis Create Syria.

Actually other mechanisms were formed in the region by Arab countries and Western countries which None of them had any achievements!

The “Astana Process” with the cooperation of Iran, Russia and Turkey managed to create tension reduction zones in Syria, which to a large extent prevented the increase of war, violence and bloodshed Of course, the war did not end completely in Syria and to some extent there was a war that continued until December 18 of this year and finally Damascus was conquered by Fatah armed groups. It was.

The first thing that observers think is that the Syria case will again become a case of Iran-Turkey dispute, but I believe that both Iran and Turkey have this potential. that they don’t allow the issue of Syria to create a problem in the relations between the two nations, I believe that Syria can be the cause of cooperation between these countries.

You witnessed high-level diplomatic and political contacts between Iran and Türkiye after December 18. Mr. Medzikian met with Mr. Erdoğan on the sidelines of the “Group of 8 Developing Islamic Countries” (D-8) summit in Cairo. Before that, the economic commission of the two countries was held; In my opinion, both countries do not want to stop their relations because of the Syrian case. The issue of state building and solving problems in Syria can also be included in the agenda of the negotiations between the two countries.

Some are waiting to see if the contacts between Iran and Turkey will start for the Syrian case, which it must be said that these contacts have started, it is not a coincidence that a collapse will take place there, but No one is exposed to holy places and no minority has been subjected to blind killing.

Of course, when I pay attention to the type of meetings of the officials and the type of literature of the officials of the two countries, I think this way. that Iran and Turkey do not intend to once again enter into a tense process over the Syrian issue, I think the current situation in Syria is different from the situation in 2011.

Anyway There is also the experience of 2011, while what happened in Syria It is just the beginning of the story. In the words of Iqbal Lahori, “There is a thousand uneaten winds in the vein of the vine.”

A collapse in Syria happened, this led to the fall of the Damascus government and the departure of Bashar al-Assad. became. Opposition groups actually entered Damascus without military confrontation. Those who want to use the Syrian case as a new topic to inflame Iran-Turkey relations should consider the fact that for the first time in modern history, a collapse occurred in an Arab country, but this led to blind killing, revenge. span style=”text-a..”>Joy and not destroyed!

Anyway Turkey’s political history and agile diplomacy can be activated in opposite directions and be influential in the contacts between Iran and Turkey.

How do you evaluate Turkey’s role in the victory of Al-Sham editorial board?

Currently there is no other actor in the Syrian scene, that something happened in this country Giving is another issue and what changes will happen in this country from now on is another issue.

This collapse of security and information that took place during Bashar al-Assad’s government was perhaps a surprise for Turkey itself. Although some believe that this scenario was predetermined. Some even believe that Türkiye, Israel and the Americans joined hands and Israel targeted Syrian infrastructure and closed the country’s borders. But all of this cannot necessarily be coordinated; It can also be uncoordinated.

Most evidence indicates that Turkey thought that only Aleppo would be under the control of the opposition; If we want to insult someone regarding the fall of Bashar al-Assad, I think we should insult Israel before Turkey, Anyway this intelligence and security collapse and closing Syria to resistance by Israel happened.

The opposition forces had been in Syria for 13 years and realized the vacuum of information and security. . We did not expect the absence of a pragmatic country like Turkey, because the Turks have been waiting for such a moment for 13 years. Somehow after the “Lausanne” agreement. That is, from 1923 until today, Turkey had reservations, of course, at the time of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, because the Lausanne Agreement led to the recognition of the current borders of Turkey and the independence of this country, this agreement was considered an achievement. But anyway Turkey has always been critical of the southern borders, saying that this division is not to their satisfaction.

I don’t want to say this is right or wrong; however the boundaries between international and Territorial integrity States cannot be distorted by reference to history. If we want to refer to historical issues, none of the current borders of the Middle East has been immune.

to anyway this point of view existed and now Turkey is the main actor in the developments in Syria . But acting is not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility. The first responsibility of the new rulers of Syria and the sponsoring country, Turkey, is to counter this occupation and the distortion of territorial integrity. Syria should not be silent; Of course, they adopted a political stance, but with a political stance, one cannot preserved territorial integrity!

As you know, Turkey considers these groups as its enemies.

Yes; Almost all Kurdish groups that have been armed in these years are on Türkiye’s list of terrorist groups. It is not clear how the Kurds will be integrated into the inclusive state that Türkiye has expressed its desire for. It is not yet clear if the Iraq model is going to be implemented in Syria.

And what will be the task of other regional governments, In any case Iran, Egypt and UAE and other regional and Arab countries are worried about developments in Syria. Arab countries had entered the normalization process with Syria. They even brought Syria into the Arab League, although Qatar shares the same opinion as Türkiye.

The international community is not indifferent to the developments in Syria and they have their views. The Americans are also present in Syria and have their own point of view regarding the developments in this country.

Anyway One of the American invaders who are present in the east of the Euphrates are Kurdish groups. They are also supported by the Americans. These are the challenges of system building in Syria, and I think traditional Turkish diplomacy will lead Turkish friends to the conclusion that it is not possible to solve Syrian problems alone.

Of course, first it is the Syrian people who should decide about their country. But anyway in these stages of collapse, regional actors should help to Syria’s territorial integrity be preserved; The Syrian people can exercise their opinion, the new regime in Syria must be able to respond to the people’s demands in the first stage.

However much Turkey becomes an influential, serious and deep role in Syria, it will be a serious threat to It will be Arab countries. At the same time, we are witnessing the meetings of Turkish officials with Arab countries. For example, Hakan Fidan’s trip to the UAE; Will the Arabs accept the superiority of Türkiye?

I cannot comment on behalf of the Arabs, but in general the countries of the Arab world in They have different views on the Syrian issue. Türkiye played a prominent role in 2011, when the Arab Spring occurred, and we saw reactions from some Arab countries. Even now, there are still concerns in some Arab and media circles that the developments in Syria are a continuation of the Arab Spring.

Turkey’s increasing influence in Syria is considered by some to be in conflict with Iran’s interests. Considering that Turkey has entered one of the spheres of influence of Iran’s power in the region, shouldn’t we Should we be concerned about Turkey’s role in other areas especially the Caucasus?

anyway when something happens like the developments in Syria and one actor replaces another actor fills, the existence of such analyzes and concerns in public opinion and mass media is not a strange issue. But we can’t connect everything without analogy!

Caucasus and Central Asia issues are two separate issues, we have to see what will happen next. Syria is suitable for any type scenario; Neither can a scenario be considered certain, nor can a scenario be rejected. One of the possible scenarios is Israel and the Americans taking advantage of this weak situation in Syria and imposing a contract or peace treaty on the new rulers of this country, this is one of the possibilities that is not certain.

Usually, in the developments of West Asia, the fact that two countries find an overlap in their interests does not mean that they overlap in all issues and interests.

Yes; In the issue of overthrowing Bashar al-Assad, Turkey agreed with the western countries, but this does not mean that Turkey’s approach overlaps with other western countries in the issue of the Kurds or other issues.

On the Syrian chessboard, all regional actors and global powers are trying to pursue their interests. It is necessary to say that a feature of the Islamic Republic of Iran in its foreign policy is that if the people in a country make decisions and an inclusive government is formed according to their wishes, the Iranian government does not consider the formation of such a government against its interests.

In Iraq, we have the same opinion, we also have the same opinion in Syria, Iran advised Bashar Assad to make his political system more inclusive, but unfortunately Assad did not follow Iran’s advice. He didn’t listen!

We believe that in Syria, the government should be inclusive and the people should decide; If Türkiye can help to realize such an issue, Iran can also help.