Month: March 2015

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As the Syrian conflict continues, and becomes even more violent, Turkey has been increasingly more criticized by Western governments. In an article by the Middle East Monitor titled “Turkey Arrests 19 Foreigners Heading Towards Syria” it states that Turkey is still experiencing a trickle of foreign fighters from all around the world attempting to cross into Syria to join the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS). In this latest instant, Turkey arrested 19 foreigners included a pregnant woman, one of 13 Indonesians, a French citizen, two Russians, two Libyans and someone from Kyrgyzstan. While Turkey is being criticized for not doing enough, Turkey’s foreign minister stated last week that more than 12,500 people have been blocked from entering Turkey and that the government has deported more than 1,150 people since January.

Despite Turkey doing its part to stop the flow of foreign fighters to Syria, as violence has increased Turkey has decided to shut down two border crossings [into Syria] according to a report done by Reuters called “Turkey Shuts Border Crossing As Fighting Worsens Around Syria’s Aleppo,” reported by Humeyra Pamuk and Tulay Karadeniz, written by Nick Tattersall, and edited by Alison Williams. It states that the border crossings were closed due to security concerns but they will remain opened to humanitarian aid. They will also keep the borders open to Syrians with passports who would like to return to Syria. 

The significance of the closing of these border crossing means that despite Turkey believing that they are doing “there part of it” the criticism received by Western powers means that they are attempting to do more to please these powers. Hundreds of foreign fighters still flock to Syria in order to join ISIS every day and Western powers, along with Turkey, are attempting to find new ways to stop this flow and eventually bring down the Islamic State.

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The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has never had any trouble finding foreign fighters to assist them in their battle for control over Syria and Iraq but recently they have gone to a new level. In an article published in Reuters by Michelle Nichols called “U.N. concerned by Islamic State’s ability to unite Afghan insurgents,” Nichols states that the Islamic State has a unique ability to unite Afghan insurgents. Despite some tensions between ISIS and the Taliban, there have been many Taliban fighters who have joined the Islamic State. Nichols states that the two groups join not so much because they believe in what the Islamic State stands for but because it can be a “potential to offer an alternative flagpole to which otherwise isolated insurgent splinter groups can rally.” Because these Taliban fighters are willing to join ISIS, and make them even stronger, the Afghanistan government is willing to open peace talks with them.

Russia has also attempted to hold peace talks with most of those involved in the Syrian conflict but it has been in vain. In fact, according to a WashingtonTimes article by Anne R. Pierce titled “Beware ISIS strategy that fortifies Russia, Iran, and Syria,” ISIS, Russia, Iran and Syria are allies in this conflict and so peace talks seem hypocritical to a point. In many cases, there are people who believe ISIS is only assisting these three countries advance their own agendas. This includes “allowing Assad to stay in power, legitimizing Russian-sponsored “peace conferences” that buy Assad time and raise Putin’s stature, accommodating the Iranian nuclear program, and giving Iran the lead in the battle against ISIS and in the Levant.” 

As stated before, ISIS has never had a problem recruiting fighters but the difference this time is that these are semi-trained fighters who have been in a war before (for the most part). This means that the Islamic State is even stronger than ever but what makes it even stronger is its close allies. These allies which include Russia, Iran, and Syria (mainly Assad’s regime) have been using ISIS to pursue their own agenda and so the growing power of ISIS only means more power and control for themselves.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (center L) meets with a French delegation headed by Senate member, Head of the Senate’s French-Syrian Friendship Committee Jean-Pierre Vial,(center R) in Damascus February 25, 2015, in this picture released by Syria’s national news agency SANA. CREDIT: REUTERS/SANA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS (Click photo to access Diigo account)

Middle-Eastern and European relationships have always been tense due to the European countries efforts to colonize these countries. In the modern day, tensions had died down but recently the group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) have brought these tensions back up especially with France due to recent attacks in and around Paris. Because of this, France does not want to regain its relationship with Syria at all. In a recent article by The Daily Star called “Syria opposition praises France’s anti-Assad stance” the author states that a group of French lawmakers went to Damascus to see if relations between the two countries could be revived but it was a trip made in-vain as France will continue to oppose President Bashar Assad and Syria all together. This trip reignited a debate in European countries over whether it was time to rebuild diplomatic ties with the Syrian regime in order to “counter the greater threat from jihadi groups such as ISIS.”

Similarly, Britain has also decided to dismiss all suggestions of resorting relations with Syria. In an article reported by John Irish and edited by Mark Heinrich in Reuters called “France, Britain dismiss calls to renew relations with Syria’s Assad,” both countries state that a relationship with Assad “would likely end all hope of a political transition and push moderates into the arms of radical Islamist groups.” They will no renew ties with Syria since they believe the regime represents injustice, chaos and terror and they do not wish to be associated with any of that. France and Britain want to be able to fight ISIS, for their own security, and they need a partner that can “act against extremists”. They want to negotiate a political settlement between the government and the various other groups in Syria. 

In the bigger picture, this means that the Syrian regime and President Assad has a lesser chance to regain control of Syria. They have few diplomatic ties left and those who are still by their side, have little power over what is happening in Syria especially if most world powers are against them. Countries such as Britain and France want peace in Syria and in order for that to happen they need to eliminate both the ISIS group and the current Syrian regime. They hope to be able to gain peace through peaceful negotiations but the likelihood of that is shrinking everyday and so France and Britain, along with other European Countries and the U.S., much search for other ways to defeat these groups.

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Russia and Syria have been close to each other for a very long time but recently Russia has been expanding its alliances in the Middle East to include Egypt. Egypt has had a problem with terrorism for many years now and in order to combat it, it has aligned itself with Russia. In a recent article by Reuters, “Russia’s Putin, Egypt’s Sisi Say Committed to Fight Terrorism,” written by Yara Bayoumy, she states that Egypt’s Sis sees Russia as a “strategic friend.” With this new alliance, Russia will assist Egypt in its operations to combat terrorism. This also includes combating terrorism throughout the Middle East especially when it comes to Syria and its internal war. Russia, along with Egypt, is expecting “a new round of talks” pertaining to the Syrian conflicts.

In another article on Al-Monitor, “UN, Russia Take Lead in Syria Diplomacy,” written by Week in Review, Russia is said to take the lead, along with the United Nations, on the Syrian peace talks. Russia did recently attempt to hold peace talks in Moscow and while many of the stakeholders attended, the most important group from Syria did not attend. The absence of this group put a major dent in the peace negotiations and Russia, the UN, and other countries, agreed that in order for peace negotiations to succeed and last, this group must be present at the negotiations. While the United States continues to stay out of these specific talks, Turkey has taken a new interest in them and they have pushed for a new law that would help ease the crisis in Syria.

Thes new alliances and roles show a change in the Syrian conflict. It shows that more and more countries are willing, and very much want to, discuss peace. Even countries such as Turkey, who tended to stay out of the conflict, are coming closer to the issue and many suggest that there are many countries that are vital when it comes to talking peace. The Syrian issue affects many around the world and peace talks need to involve all of the stakeholders in order for them to succeed.