Turkish President Erdogan flew to Russia on Tuesday to speak with President Putin. There was something for them to talk about - the density of Russian-Turkish relations is such that it is difficult to single out the most important. Oil, gas, Turkish Stream, nuclear power plants, air defense, aviation - a lot of things. Erdogan made a strategic decision, choosing the Russian S-400 air defense system - at the cost of abandoning the American F-35 fighter, although Turkey invested a lot in this plane. According to this parameter, Erdogan went over to our side, which is unusual for a NATO member country.
The meeting of the two presidents took place in Zhukovsky, among planes, and Putin offered Erdogan to buy the most modern Russian fighter, and at the same time treated him with ice cream. But the Turkish president didn’t fly for ice cream.
The most urgent matter that drove Erdogan on the road - the fighting in Syria. The legitimate government of Syria, President Bashar al-Assad and his army are fighting stubbornly offensively against the last stronghold of extremists in Idlib province. The Turkish "observation post" (or simply a military base) was in the rear of the Syrian forces. In a good way, the Turks should have brought him out, because they cannot get through to him. But I don’t want to output either. The Syrians did not let the Turkish military convoy to the observation posts. The Turks do not like it at all. If Putin does not quench the Syrian army, Turkey itself will tear it to pieces, Erdogan threatened yesterday.
It is important for Russia to be friends with Damascus and Ankara. Putin faced a difficult task - how to resolve the crisis without quarreling with allies, partners and associates.
Damascus has the right to regain Idlib - one of the provinces of Syria captured by militants during the civil war. So Moscow had the right to regain the Crimea in 1920, although white sat there densely with the support of the Entente. There was an agreement between Moscow, Ankara and Tehran on the conclusion of a temporary truce and the creation of a de-escalation zone in Idlib, but it did not work. By agreement, the terrorists of the An-Nusra *, Al-Qaeda ** and other gangs were supposed to retreat and disarm, but instead they went about their usual business - shelling Syrian territory and the air base in Khmeimim.
For a long time, the Russians and the Syrians tolerated this, hoping that the Turks would kill the Islamists. But the fighting resumed. The terrorists, like an old man, raised a cry about the suffering civilian population of the province, about the chemical attacks of the "villain Assad", and even the "White Helmets" were awakened again. For Damascus, this is an unacceptable turn of events.
Not for this, the Syrians fought for seven years, now to give part of their native country to a bunch of terrorists from around the world.
There are forty thousand thugs there alone of Uyghur militants. Russia understands that terrorists must be driven, and supports the advancement of Syrian forces with the fire of its aircraft.
But the Turks can be understood. There are three million Syrian refugees in Turkey. If Assad is killing Idlib, you can expect another one or two million, which the Turks do not want.
Erdogan’s result in recent elections to Istanbul’s mayor’s office is payback for bringing in refugees. The Istanbulers are those who have come and run in absolutely no need. And their appearance is associated with Erdogan’s policy. A campaign has now begun to evict refugees from Istanbul, and Erdogan does not need a military operation in Idlib.
But the Syrians can be understood. In the thirties, the Turks already chopped off one of the provinces of Syria, Antioch (or Alexandretta), and renamed it Hatay. Idlib leaves after Antioch, felt by the Syrians. In addition, the province in the south was seized by the Israelis - they call it the Golan. Another part of Syria is kept by Kurds under the auspices of the United States. It is clear that if nothing is done, Syria will fall apart. This is exactly what the USA, Israel, France and England want. Turkey has a special approach, but not so special that it can be adopted.
Putin persuaded Erdogan to come to terms with the advance of the legitimate government, leaving a narrow strip for the refugees along the Syrian-Turkish border. Everyone can be driven there, including Syrian refugees from Turkey. And if something goes wrong, Putin will be able to say: the terrorists have not complied with the terms of the agreement.
For consolation, Putin reminded Erdogan that soon, in mid-September, at a meeting of the “Astana troika”, that is, Russia, Turkey and Iran, there would be talk about constitutional changes in Syria that would allow the opposition to act by peaceful means.
So far, Turkey has left and retreated, despite statements about "not a step back." The Turks know that Syria is a different country and the Syrians have the right to figure out their own affairs. But Syria was part of the Turkish Empire - as Georgia was part of the Russian Empire. Just as it is difficult for Russians to see a completely foreign country in Georgia, so it is difficult for Turks to stop treating Syria as their former province.
Relations between Turkey and Russia are too important for both great powers, the two heirs of Byzantium, to quarrel over a handful of terrorists in the Syrian wilderness. Understanding this point helped Putin and Erdogan find a common language.
* “Jabhat al-Nusra” - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.
** “Al-Qaeda in the countries of the Islamic Maghreb” - the organization was recognized as terrorist by a decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of November 13, 2008.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.