Saleh Muslim: There are new deals between Russia, Turkey

NEWS DESK

During a meeting conducted by Hawar news agency with the member of the North Syria’s Diplomatic Relations Committee Saleh Muslim on the developments in Idlib, especially after the recent Russian-Turkish meeting in Sochi, Saleh Muslim said, "For Turkey's meeting with Tehran, it was a completion of Astana meetings. We know that Astana meetings do not intend to find a solution to the Syrian crisis; rather, they are tactical meetings between these parties to pass their plans, including their agreement to bring together all the extremist and terrorist gangs in one place. They have already reached their goal of bringing them all together in Idlib and they are now planning for a new stage."

Muslim stressed that Iran and Russia want to eliminate these gangs in Idlib. Turkey was against that vision and that was the reason of disagreement between them in Tehran meeting, and therefore, the meeting of Sochi between Turkey and Russia came as an alternative to Tehran, and in order to remove the Iranian role from Idlib’s file, and what have been imagined from the outputs of Astana summit which Turkey is trying to show it as if they came to a solution and there will be no battle in Idlib. All these do not go beyond media propaganda because Russia has a clear goal of eliminating these gangs in Idlib and disarming them. Russia is passing these plans to Turkey and it would force it to eliminate Jabhet al-Nusra in any way.

We do not know what Turkey made concessions to the Russians in Sochi

As for the recent agreements between Turkey and Russia after the meeting of Sochi, Muslim said, "We all know that the Turkish goal and interest in Syria is to fight the Kurds, and to achieve its goals. We do not know what Turkey made concessions this time to the Russians to postpone the battle of Idlib, but it is clear that there are new agreements between them."

Muslim added, "We hope that the Kurds would not be the target of these agreements and deals between the two parties, but if they try to approach the interests of our people, we will have a response to those plans in both political and military fields."

Muslim pointed out that those foreign elements cannot be treated as the rest of the armed groups who were driven from inside and south of Syria via green buses. They need new places to be transported to, either Turkey would take them to their territories or head them to new fronts to fight, but if Turkey does not filter them, it will be obliged to fight them in cooperation with Russia."

Turkey's plan to withdraw terrorist gangs to Afrin

Saleh Muslim confirmed that if the terrorist gangs in Idlib handed over the weapons, it would be possible to put a solution to Idlib, but if they refused to surrender, no one would accept this situation. No one can accept the objectives of those groups that call for the formation of an Islamic emirate in Syria. We believe that there are Turkish plans to withdraw these groups to Afrin, and this option will not bring the solution to the area. If they enter Afrin, we will fight them because the liberation of Afrin for us is the main goal and fate, and it must be returned. In that case, it will be clear that Turkey does not intend to find any solution to the Syrian issue and it make the situation more complicated.

Turkey will not be able to attack the northern areas of Syria alone if it would not coordinate with the Russians

Saleh said in this regard, "Turkey will not be able alone to attack the areas liberated by SDF if it would not coordinate with Russia. Turkey has previously tried to launch an attack on the northern areas of Syria and it asked in the meetings with Putin publicly to help it to occupy Manbij and it would deal with the situation in Idlib, but the Russian side cannot accept that because the fate of Manbij was not at its hand. Turkey cannot easily attack the liberated areas because SDF and the Alliance troops will respond strongly to these attacks."

Iran's non-participation in Idlib file does not mean its withdrawal from Syria

Regarding Iran's withdrawal from Idlib's file, Muslim commented: "Iran was the leader of all battles beside the regime throughout Syria. As for Idlib, I think that Iran also does not want to show itself publicly in this battle for fear of the Western and American pressure.

Muslim noted that the other parties such as America, Britain and France will not leave the Idlib’s file to the Russians and Turkey, but they will try to intervene in Idlib’s affair. Idlib’s issue is a crucial issue among all the conflicting parties, and no one knows where things will end in Idlib."

A.H

ANHA