​​​​​​​Arab newspapers: Syria is an influential arena for US elections, Europe threatens Turkey with sanctions

On Saturday morning, the Arab newspapers discussed the recent Russian-American clash in Syria, in addition to the European-Turkish tension, and the Turkish ambitions.

Al-Bayan: Syria is on the line early in the US elections

The Arab newspapers published this morning on the Syrian issue dealt with several topics, the most prominent of which was the recent US-Russian clash in Syria. In this context, Al Bayan newspaper said: “With the approaching American elections and the preparation of all political elites and study centers, as well as the mobilization of the Republican and Democratic parties, regions begin American influence in the world is shaken by international competition, as the American reputation in the world is quickly reflected in the American interior and may be decisive in resolving the course of the presidential elections.

"In these elections, Syria appears to be the arena that has the fastest impact on the American elections, especially in light of the Russian-American contiguity in many areas, from Deir-ez-Zor to northeastern Syria, where the close geographic proximity between the two powers," it added.

The day before yesterday, the classic scene between the American and Russian patrols in the regions of northeastern Syria was renewed. The scene is not new, but the timing itself carries successive and continuous messages from the Russian side to the American side. The emergence of Russian-American military patrols in pursuit of the common lines is a picture that may develop to greater levels in the later stage, with Russia realizing the sensitivity of the American military presence in the American interior and how Russia exploits the general situation of America.

Thus, it is not a coincidence of Russian-American friction in the city of Deirk / Malikiyah, because Russia wants to disturb America in those areas, and it realizes the difficulty of the American response, due to the American elections that Donald Trump wants without interference. The American-Russian friction the day before yesterday led to the injury of a number of American soldiers in northeastern Syria due to friction with the Russian patrols, and although the injuries were minor, they bear advanced indications of a hidden conflict.

In the face of such hot events with the approaching American elections, America will face many of these tensions, especially since last week, there were skirmishes against US forces at the al-Omar oil field base in eastern Deir ez-Zor, which increases tension to push the USA to respond militarily. However, the nature of the American electoral mood in the presidential elections prefers not to involve the US military in domestic issues.

Such issues may be a trump card for both parties in the United States of America, but most likely it will be a democratic card against President Trump, and this also depends on what Russia plans in Syria. It seems that Syria will enter the arena early in the American elections, and will be a closely watched arena in the coming period because of its importance at the level of Russian-American competitive relations.

Al-Arab: Europe puts Turkey before sanctions or retreat in the eastern Mediterranean

Regarding the European-Turkish tension, Al-Arab newspaper said: “The European Union’s foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, warned Turkey on Friday of the possibility of new sanctions, including wide-ranging economic measures, unless progress is made towards reducing the level of tension with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, while European threats were met with Turkish escalation.

Borrell said that the foreign ministers of the bloc meeting in Berlin “agreed that in the absence of progress on the part of Turkey, we may draw up a list of more measures” which is expected to be discussed during a summit in Brussels scheduled to be held on September 24th.

He added that the bloc wanted to give "dialogue a serious opportunity", but was steadfast in its support for the two member countries, Greece and Cyprus, in the crisis, which reinforced fears of the possibility of a military confrontation.

A dispute over maritime borders and gas exploration rights has re-ignited the historic rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two countries holding separate naval military exercises.

The European Union foreign ministers, who are holding a meeting in Berlin, agreed to Cyprus' request to impose sanctions on more people due to their role in the exploration operations carried out by Turkey in water areas claimed by the island.

Europe realizes more than ever that Turkey has become a heavy burden in light of the confrontational approach taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, violating European values ​​on the basis of which the European Union determines its external relations.

Al-Bayan: A map from the Seljuk era confirms Erdogan's "dream" of "Ottoman influence"

In its turn, Al-Bayan newspaper said: “A former deputy in the Turkish parliament for the ruling Justice and Development Party published a map of Greater Turkey”, dating back to the era of the Seljuks, and their victory over the Byzantine Empire in the Battle of "Sanctuary of Kurd” in 1071, on the occasion of commemorating the battle that occurred. It falls on August 26th. "

The publication of the map coincided with the publication of the map by Metin Glonk, who is close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with severe tension between Turkey and Greece due to the dispute over oil and gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean. It shows what he called "Greater Turkey", which includes large areas of northern Greece, the eastern Aegean islands, half of Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Armenia in its entirety, and large areas of Georgia, Iraq and Syria.

The publication of the map sparked widespread controversy, at a time when Turkey is interfering in many of the areas it included, including northern Syria and northern Iraq, in addition to Libya, in addition to the conflict with Greece and Cyprus, as Glonak attached it to a series of tweets in which he indicated that Turkey had regained the spirit of "haven" Kurd »After the failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, 2016, it opened its doors to Syria, Iraq, Africa, the Mediterranean, likening that to what happened in the period of the Seljuks.

 “After the death of the founder of the modern Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish people became idle and asleep due to the influence of the West, until Erdogan woke them up and restored the spirit of (sanctuary) to them again, and therefore the West is currently pressuring to get us out of these areas, but they are ignorant,” said Glonak. We have regained the spirit of independence, and go out armed with science, technology and power.”

In the recent period, Turkey has witnessed an escalation in the talk about the so-called "blue homeland", a project that the Turkish army and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar talked about repeatedly, based on Turkey imposing its control in the seas surrounding it (the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea).

T/S

ANHA