Experts about supposed  Mamlouk-Fidan meeting: it targets Kurds in first place

 There are contradictory reports about the supposed meeting between the two most top intelligence figures in Damascus and the Turkish occupation, namely, the head of National Security in Damascus, Major General Ali Mamlouk, and the head of Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan.

 Intelligence communication went nonstop

 An expert on Turkish affairs, Dr. Mehmet Noureddin, spoke to our agency about this, saying: "In relations between countries, there is no complete break even in the worst phases of relations between two countries, there is always a channel of communication through intelligence. This is a consistent principle in international relations.  Therefore, intelligence meetings or meetings between elements of the Syrian and Turkish intelligence, is a normal and natural thing, and it has always happened in the distant and recent past. It happens and will happen, and therefore there is no surprise in this matter. Only with such intelligence communication channels can relations between two countries continue.  This is the case for all countries.

Nour El-Din added: “As for when the level of the meeting rises to a higher level than the intelligence level, for example, at the level of the Director General of Intelligence, or the Director General of the Ministry of Interior or Defense, and then at a higher level, up to the rank of Minister, this means that there is  new and qualitative developments in the relations between the two countries.

 He added, "So far, we have not found that the relations between Damascus and Ankara have moved to a higher circle, and therefore there is no indication or anything new regarding the relations between the two countries on a political, economic or other level."

 Turkey announces and Damascus denies!

 A Turkish newspaper reported last week that Fidan and Mamlouk will hold a meeting in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to discuss "security issues and coordination in the field of combating terrorism."

 Ismail Hakki, the former head of the Turkish Military Intelligence Department, considered that the meeting that will be held between Fidan and Mamlouk is "the beginning of a new process," noting that it is being sponsored by Russia and Iran.

 And earlier on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said in statements to one of the Turkish channels, that "his country is communicating with Damascus on security issues and the fight against terrorism," and that the necessary negotiations are underway at the level of special services and intelligence.

 He added, "There is a regime in Syria that is not recognized by the world, and a political meeting with the Damascus administration is not possible," but with that, "necessary negotiations are underway at the level of special services and intelligence only... and this is normal."

Turkey revealed these meetings. An expert on Turkish affairs, Dr. Muhammad Noureddine, said: “This is indeed a somewhat exciting matter, and it may be an attempt for Turkey to put itself on the table of Middle Eastern meetings, not only with Syria, but among the countries of the region.  Without being invited to do so, it means that such a signal from the Turkish Foreign Minister, that there are talks with Syria, is an attempt for Turkey to enter and be a party to meetings that it is not from, and therefore believes that it is intentionally excluded from those meetings.

 He added, "Through these signs, Turkey is awaiting the reaction of the other party, and the reaction of the other party was very strong and high-pitched, so that it not only denied this information, but also accused Turkey of being a den of terrorism and a stronghold of it, and that it is one of the factors of unrest and lack of  stability in the world.

 Damascus, in turn, responded to Davutoglu's statements through its Foreign Ministry and said: "In response to the statements of the Turkish Foreign Minister about the existence of direct negotiations with Syria on security issues and the fight against terrorism, Syria categorically denies the existence of any kind of communication and negotiations with the Turkish regime, especially in the field of combating terrorism."  terrorism".

 The source added, "It has become known to far and wide that the ruling regime in Ankara is the main supporter of terrorism, and has made Turkey a reservoir for extremism and terrorism, which poses a threat to peace and stability in the region and the world, and flagrantly violates international legitimacy resolutions on combating terrorism."

Despite the Syrian denial of the supposed meeting with Mamlouk - Fidan, this meeting, if it happened, would not be the first of its kind. Mamlouk and Fidan held a meeting in early 2020 in the Russian capital, Moscow, the first announced meeting since 2011.

 At the time, the official SANA news agency reported that a Syrian-Russian-Turkish tripartite meeting took place in Moscow.

 The current Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar al-Jaafari and al-Assad's advisor, Buthaina Shaaban, also spoke in more than one media interview about security meetings between Damascus and Ankara, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed earlier, the occurrence of low-level security meetings.

 In this context, Dr. Noureddine said: "As long as the relations are at the intelligence level, this is not considered an important development in these relations. Of course, at the intelligence level, all topics can be discussed, but you do not find anyone to reflect this and translate it into reality, except through political delegations or  economic and others.

 Lots of files on the table

 On the outstanding issues between the two countries, Dr. Noureddine said: "If these meetings are held, many files will be discussed, including bilateral, regional and multilateral ones. But there is no doubt that from the Turkish part, one of the most important files is to raise the issue of preventing the arrival of the Kurds in Syria.  To the stage of establishing an entity that Turkey considers separatist from Syria, and thus threatens the territorial integrity of Turkey.

He explained that "the first issue is security par excellence, and it is the Kurdish issue in Syria, and this is one of the priority files for Turkey. Then comes the security relations, apart from the Kurds between Turkey and Syria, which is still governed by an international legal framework, which is the Adana Agreement in October."  October 1998, and Syria still adheres to it. Turkey mentions it from time to time, without being strictly committed to it. Therefore, the security file between the two countries is a fundamental issue.

 As for Turkey, Dr. Noureddine believes, "There is a file of Syrian refugees in Turkey and how to solve it. This does not mean that Turkey is in a hurry to solve this file, because it is still exploiting it and blackmailing Syria and European countries with it."

 He added, "Apart from that, there are bilateral relations, which are economic relations, and this is natural to discuss if the two sides meet. There is the issue of water, which constitutes a pressing element on the relations between Turkey and Syria and between Turkey and Iraq as well. In addition to the various regional files that concern the two countries are of interest to other parties, including oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, where both countries, Turkey and Syria, have exclusive offshore areas for exploration and oil extraction, and overlapping.  In the region, stability, the nature of relations with the Israeli entity, and so on.”

 little luck

 On the success of such meetings, Dr. Muhammad Noureddine said: "It is too early to talk about such meetings. First, because Turkey does not want these meetings to take place in light of Bashar al-Assad's continued presence in the presidency, because Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers the issue personal by not recognizing  the Syrian regime. It refuses to talk and communicate with it directly. He believes that talking and communicating with Russia is sufficient in such a case. Of course, this is one of the factors that complicate communication between the two countries."

And he added: "But in politics, although the situation with Syria is more difficult، not impossible. Just as the Turks sought normalization with Egypt, and to abandon their embrace of the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, although I see that these are just verbal positions rather than practical ones."

 Noureddine added: "I think the main question is, will this meeting take place? I rule out such meetings in the near time, because this requires certain regional transformations, not only at the Turkish-Syrian level, but also at the international level. And from that the Russian position  from the region and Russian-American relations in Syria and the region.

 Regarding the choice of Baghdad for this planned meeting, Noureddine said: "This is not strange. Baghdad has a good relationship with Ankara, although Ankara interferes and violates Iraqi sovereignty every day. Likewise, Baghdad has a good relationship with Syria, although Baghdad is very reluctant to appear  pro-Damascus, taking into account the American side. As the central authority in Baghdad is trying to appear as neutral, or at a distance from Iran and America, or the Gulf or Turkey. Whereas the government now in Baghdad  is largely under American orders."

 The Kurds are at the forefront of the planned discussions

 And whether the supposed meeting would discuss the Kurdish file if it took place, Noureddine said: “There is no doubt that in the event of a rapprochement between Damascus and Turkey without the Kurds in Syria being a party in one way or another, directly or indirectly, in such talks, they will be a victim for any agreement concluded between the two parties, they may be a target for the Turkish forces as well as for the Syrian forces, albeit to a lesser extent."

 He added, "In light of the continuing divergence between the Kurdish positions in Syria, and both Damascus and Ankara, I think that any agreement between Damascus and Ankara will not be in the interest of the Kurds in any way. Therefore, I think that the Kurds should choose to side with the Syrian state, not on the basis of  accepting what Damascus imposes on them, but rather on the basis of reaching common understandings between them.

 The Kurds and Damascus must meet, even in the middle of the road

 Noureddine stressed that "Syria's unity must be a constant strategic goal for all. The Syrian state should be an incubator and a fair policy based on justice towards all parties. It takes into account cultural, linguistic, educational rights and territorial privacy in one way or another."

 Noureddine continued his speech by saying: "This is an urgent matter, as on the part of the Kurds in Syria, as well as on the part of Damascus. Because it is not possible in any alliance or conflict between Turkey and Syria, that the Kurds be neutral between these two parties, because the Kurds are within one Syria."  Unified, taking into account the concerns they raise and ask the Syrian state to meet them, even in the middle of the road."

 Russia is weaving relations between Turkey and Damascus at the expense of the Syrian homeland

In turn, the Kurdish writer and political researcher Hussein Omar said: "I think that the preliminary meeting preceded the announcement of the announced meeting, and this is not new. Intelligence relations between the Turkish and Syrian regimes have always been at the highest levels. The setback that occurred after 2011 was only a short period of stagnation,  The Turkish belief was that the regime would fall quickly, so Turkish preparations were taking place on the basis of a new type of relationship synthesis.

 He explained that "a dependent relationship if the coalition came to power or any of the armed groups came to power, but that did not happen. That is why Turkey turned around and tried to restore intelligence cooperation between the two sides. But the regime did not show its willingness after several preliminary rounds at the time after 2015 because the regime was not taking place."  On the other hand, Turkey was asking for the regime's help in striking the People's Protection Units and women for free, and this is what the regime did not accept until Russia intervened on the line, and weaved a network of different relations with the Turkish regime at the expense of the Syrian homeland and its people, to conclude agreements on behalf of the Damascus regime.  and the formation of joint committees. This is no longer enough for the Turkish occupier. That is why he wanted to restore intelligence relations again. The goal is the Kurdish people, as it is known."

 Omar pointed out that "the Turkish promotion of the meeting, and Damascus' denial of it, is only a new beginning in the tense and separated relationship between the two parties. In my opinion, Turkey needs more to renew the relationship, and even to return to establishing normal relations with the regime.  The Syrian mercenaries and the coalition dependent on their agendas, in order to please the regime to take joint steps against the Autonomous Administration and the Kurdish people in particular, and it is no secret to anyone that the only enemy of the Turkish regime, as it highlights, is the Autonomous Administration and the Kurdish people in particular.

Turkey will make many concessions

 On the expected results, the Kurdish researcher Hussein Omar said: "I think that the meeting will not achieve what Turkey wants, unless it makes clear concessions to the regime, especially on the issue of Idlib. Because the other occupied areas, from Afrin to Ras al-Ain, do not matter much to the regime, but rather the first concern.  His is to remove the threat to its forces’ concentration points and areas of control, thus Turkey will have to sacrifice most of the areas controlled by the so-called Nasra Salvation Government, until the regime is satisfied with intelligence cooperation at the highest levels with it, to strike at the Autonomous Administration, although one of the regime’s most important goals is also  Eliminate the administration, but he does not want Turkey to have a hand in it for free, which is evident after several rounds of intelligence and diplomatic negotiations between the two regimes.

 Omar believes that "Erdogan will, as a result, make concessions that partially satisfy the regime, because the common goal of the two parties, which is the elimination of the Autonomous Administration, will bring them together. Unless the countries with the most powerful influence - America and Russia - interfere in reaching an agreement that leads in Syria to a peaceful solution. At that time.  Turkey and the regime will abide by the agreement."

 At the conclusion of his speech, the Kurdish researcher Hussein Omar said: "In any case, the previous Turkish, Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi regimes had a joint intelligence work cell against the Kurdish people."

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 ANHA