Experts, Diplomats Reiterate Importance Of US-Turkish Cooperation On Syria

Turkish and US experts and diplomats, who convened for a special panel on Syria's future, on Monday reiterated the importance of the US-Turkish cooperation over Syria.

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM), an influential Turkish think-thank based in the capital Ankara, brought together various US and Turkish experts and diplomats for the conference "The Future of Syria: Turkish and US Perspectives."

The conference, held in Ankara, was also followed by a distinguished audience which included representatives from international media, diplomats and scholars.

Delivering the opening speech, Ahmet Uysal, ORSAM's director, stressed the importance of Syria and the Levant in general for peace and stability in the region.

Referring to the civil war in Syria, he remarked that Daesh/ISIS terror group, which concentrated its attacks on the Syrian opposition, not the Assad regime forces, along with numerous foreign players, including Russia, Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah played a crucial role in the survival of the regime in Damascus.

Uysal also argued that western governments and the Obama administration didn't keep their promises to the Syrian opposition forces and let them down.

However, he noted that the US-Turkish cooperation is still relevant and "very much needed to push for a political transition in Syria, reconstruction of the war-torn country, pressure the Russian and the Assad regime and ensure peace in the region."

James Jeffry, former US Deputy National Security Advisor and Special Envoy to the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, in his part, highlighted that Syria is a dangerous problem, not only for the US and Turkey but also for the whole world.

Also, drawing attention to the humanitarian dimension of the issue, he noted that over 12 million Syrian were driven away from their homes.

Praising Turkey's policy and efforts regarding Syrian refugees Jeffry said: "Turkey, which hosting five million refugees, is doing an amazing job."

He also added that the Biden administration must make its Syria policy clear and share it with the international community."

Another speaker, Joel Rayburn, Former US Special Envoy for Syria, peculiarly highlighted that Syria turned into a narco-state, which produces and exports drugs, mostly into the Gulf states.

Holding the Assad regime responsible for the current state of affairs, he said the regime's continuation would create more problems, including Iranian military expansion, an increasing number of refugees and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Oytun Orhan, ORSAM's coordinator for Levant studies, in his part, revealed that combatting terrorism, territorial integrity and politics of Syria, prevention of a new mass migration wave and the political solution of the crisis based on the UNSC resolution 2254 constitute the main pillars of Turkey's Syria policy.

Andrew Tabler, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, agreed with other speakers that the Assad regime, which doesn't want to compromise, is responsible for the suffering of the country and its people.

Touching upon the recent normalization efforts of some a Arab countries, including Egypt, UAE and Jordan, he held that these countries want to use economic incentives to convince the regime for the negotiated resettlement.

Richard Outzen, the former US State Department Senior Advisor for Syrian Engagement, stressed that there had not been enough discussion and communication between Turkish and US institutions over Syria.

He noted that the common interests of Turkey and the US share in Syria entails a more close and comprehensive dialogue and cooperation.

"We, like Turkey, want to stable and peaceful country, which doesn't threaten its neighbors," he said, noting that the decision-makers in the Biden administration are aware of Turkey's concerns and interests concerning Syria.

Syria has been in a civil war since early 2011 following the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

According to UN officials, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed over the past ten years, and more than 10 million others have been displaced.​​​​​​​ -