Akram Hisso: Turkey to make substantial concessions in Astana 16

In the course of the Astana meetings, the first round of which was held on 23-24 January 2017, under the supervision of Russia, Turkey and Iran as international and regional actors that have military forces and armed groups on Syrian territory, the course of the meeting was changed from a humanitarian to a military track, particularly after the fourth meeting.

Politician and member of Executive Body of the Kurdistan Nationalist Congress, Akram Hisso, was interviewed by ANHA that Astana talks were brought back to the fore after the Turkish escalation in both Ukraine and Bologna on the one hand, and on the other, that the Turkish occupying state did not receive any assurances from NATO and the members of the Global Coalition in the event of clashes between it and the Russian-backed Srian Government forces in the De-Escalation zone established in Astana 4 and Astana 6.

Hisso noted that in Astana 16 Turkish regime wishes to avoid the gaps that had recently emerged and to soften the atmosphere with the Russian side, "The Turkish regime has therefore conducted extensive meetings with the Russian side, most recently the meeting between the Foreign Ministers Lavrov and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in the Turkish city of Antalya."

He noted that some leaks had emerged from the meeting between the Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers, which would be revealed during the 16th Astana meeting. He said: "The meeting will produce new decisions, including avoiding of shortcomings in previous conventions to which Turkey has not adhered."

The position of the Turkish occupying sate is weak

Akram Hisso stressed that the position of the Turkish occupying state is very weak as a result of its unbalanced policies, so it tried to convene the Astana 16th meeting urgently: "The Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan stated that there was a tripartite meeting in the city of Nur Sultan between 6th and 8th July, in addition to the presence of the Syrian opposition and representatives of the Syrian regime, the United Nations and observer States, namely Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq."

Hisso noted that the Astana meetings were on a humanitarian track in accordance with article 10th of the United Nations resolution 2,254 which (Stresses the need for all parties in Syria to take confidence-consolidating measures to contribute to the prospects for a political process and a lasting ceasefire, and calls upon all States to use their influence with the Government of Syria and the Syrian opposition to advance the peace process, confidence-consolidating measures and steps towards a ceasefire.)

Turkey under great pressure

Hisso explained that Turkey is facing considerable pressure and is trying to prevent the opening of Al-Yarubiyah /Tal Kocher Border Crossing for the entry international humanitarian assistance to north and east Syria. He said: "The Turkish regime will therefore make substantial concessions to the Syrian, Iranian and Russian regimes in order to keep the Al-Yarubiyah /Tal Kocher Border Crossing closed."

Hiasso stated that the reason for concessions to the Damascus Government and the Russian and Iranian sides was the failure of the Biden and Erdogan summit held on the sidelines of the NATO summit, the failure by Turkey to obtain NATO assurances in the event of any Syrian-Russian military operation in Idlib, and the failure of Turkey to contain the crisis between itself and Russia in relation to Ukraine and Bologna. At the end, Hisso said that the Astana 16 would result in nothing but to prolong the Syrian Crisis and eventually the sufferings of the Syrian people and an increase in Turkish violations on the ground.

T/S

ANHA