Meri al-Shibli: Ukrainian crisis will cast a shadow over Syria's Idlib

Member of the Presidential Council of the Syrian Democratic Council, Meri al-Shibli, indicated that the conflict between Russia and NATO cast a shadow over the Turkish-Russian spheres of influence in Idlib, stressing Turkey's exploitation of this conflict to gain concessions from the West.

15 April, 2021 00:09

ALEPPO - MOHAMMED ABDO

After the escalation in the Ukrainian-Russian borders due to the latter's mobilization of military forces on its borders with Ukraine and the entry of NATO, including Turkey to the conflict line, as Ukraine is the ally of the West and the enemy of the Russians. This will cast a shadow over the areas of Turkish and Russian influence in Syria, especially in Idlib.

To delve into more details, our agency met with the member of the Presidential Council of the Syrian Democratic Council, Meri al-Shibli, who explained at the beginning of his speech that "the only constant thing in politics is that there is nothing fixed in it, and this is a fact. As for the situation in Idlib city, it is always changing, especially after Erdogan's recent statements that the ruling regime in Syria must be changed."

Russian resentment of Turkey

Regarding the Russian reaction to the frequency of the Turkish decision, al-Shibli said: "The Turkish actions provoked the Russians' resentment, which in turn sent direct messages to Erdogan who is trying to revive Turkey's ideas in 2015 before the Russian intervention to establish the existence of the regime's rule in Syria, and upon returning to put forward such ideas in this time by Erdogan, he must rely on new developments on the ground."

Al-Shibli continued: "The Russian response was frank and clear with regard to Turkey's position through the constant shelling of Turkish areas of influence, whether in Idlib or the rest of the occupied areas, such as Al-Bab and others."

The Ukraine crisis casts a shadow over Idlib

Al-Shibli believed that the recent period, as a result of the Ukraine crisis, reflected Russian resentment in Idlib and increased the crisis with NATO and Turkey which occupies a part of Idlib, and said: "Turkey changed its policy recently by bragging that it is a member of NATO, and it received the Ukrainian president earlier to get closer to the Alliance, especially after the tension that prevailed over the S400 deal, and this will provoke a reaction and resentment by Russians."

Regarding US and European policy, al-Shibli indicated that it is biased towards Turkey for a good reason which is to attract Turkey as an important country in NATO in the event of a conflict or war in Ukraine, which makes Turkey in conflict with Russia, especially since the existing tensions in the Black Sea region."

In this context, he added, "There are other American motives for rapprochement with Turkey, which is to rein in immigrants, especially Afghans heading to Europe, whose number is estimated at one million immigrants, after receiving information about a possible American withdrawal from Afghanistan."

While al-Shibli noted that Turkey is taking advantage of the issue of blackmailing the West with the refugee file, which he revives from time to time, in order to make material and political gains from European countries.

The Member of the Presidential Council of the Syrian Democratic Council concluded his speech by saying: "The situation in Idlib is unstable because Turkey has not declared its complete bias to the West, and from the perspective of American policy, Idlib is the last stronghold of the so-called Syrian opposition that must remain in order to preserve interests and areas of influence for bargaining."

D.H

ANHA