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ANKARA: Turkey’s objections to Russia’s decision to invite Syria’s main Kurdish political party to the proposed peace-talk congress scheduled for Nov. 18 in Sochi has led to the congress’ postponement. Russia has also reportedly ceded to Turkey’s demands that the Kurdish-led Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its armed affiliate, People’s Protection Units (YPG), take no part in the congress.
Turkey sees the PYD as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which it views as a terrorist organization for its decades-long insurgency in Turkey and Iraq.
Turkey’s presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin announced on Sunday in an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV that Turkey may send an observer to the talks as well.
“It’s not certain yet. But what Russia has informed us is that the meeting has been postponed and the PYD will not be invited,” he said.
Russia, Turkey and Iran are the three guarantor countries of the Russian-led Syria peace talks which have been running in tandem with UN-led peace talks in Geneva.
Oytun Orhan, an expert on Syria at Ankara-based think tank ORSAM, believes Iran and Syria may also have voiced concerns about the PYD taking part in the congress.
“As the fight with Daesh in Syria is approaching an end, the visions of Russia and regional countries over Syria’s future are diverging from each other,” Orhan told Arab News.
“Russia supports federalism in Syria, and claims the PYD should be included in the political settlement process. However, federalism is a red line for the three regional countries, and that might have pushed Russia to delay the congress,” he added. “The joint position of Turkey, Iran and Syria on the PYD and federalism might oblige Russia to shift closer to their stances.”
In October, Turkey launched a military operation in Syria’s Idlib province, which is largely controlled by HTS, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Turkish military set up observation points in Idlib under the Astana deal, brokered with Russia and Iran.
Turkey is desperate to ensure that its border with Syria — which runs from Afrin, next to Idlib, to the Mediterranean — is free from threats. Afrin is currently under the control of Kurdish YPG forces. And Russia currently has observer forces deployed in Afrin to ensure security.
Orhan says this situation could also be the cause of tension between Turkey and Russia.
“Turkey expects Russia to lift its protection over the YPG in Afrin, while Russia doesn’t wish to withdraw its support of Syrian Kurdish militias until Idlib is completely free of radical elements,” he said.
Russia, though, needs Turkish support on the ground to stabilize the situation in Idlib province, where the threat of attacks by militant groups still exists.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Russia on Nov. 13, and is expected to meet his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
“Before this meeting, both parties can take steps to strengthen their bargaining power,” Orhan said. “However, as their mutual needs continue, they will have to abstain from taking steps that would end their cooperation.”