Local Editor
In its leading article of Saturday, The Independent British daily stated that the most surprising aspect of the impasse is Turkey's failure to act effectively during the Syrian crisis.
“It is a country which shares a long land border with Syria and had previously been on exceptionally good terms with President Bashar al-Assad, helped by its exporters' domination of the Syrian market before 2011 and the Turkish goods that fill shops throughout the country,” the daily read.
“Here was Ankara's first serious test as a regional power: it is a test that it has so far failed. But any future resolution of the crisis must involve Turkey, as the only one of Syria's immediate neighbors capable of exerting influence.”
The British daily believed, however, that it would have been preferable if Turkey had not broken so wholly with the Syrian regime.
“As a result of Mr Erdogan's mis-playing of his cards, it is not the Turks but the Russians who have ended up as the one country with pivotal influence in Damascus.”
“But there is still time to take back the initiative. And if there is to be regional action, it would be better led by Turkey than Saudi Arabia and Qatar – not least to avoid the absurd hypocrisy of pretending that two of the last absolute monarchies on earth are trying to overthrow Mr Assad because of their concern for the democratic and civil rights of the Syrian people,” the article read.
“It is up to Ankara to take a lead,” the daily concluded.
In its leading article of Saturday, The Independent British daily stated that the most surprising aspect of the impasse is Turkey's failure to act effectively during the Syrian crisis.
“It is a country which shares a long land border with Syria and had previously been on exceptionally good terms with President Bashar al-Assad, helped by its exporters' domination of the Syrian market before 2011 and the Turkish goods that fill shops throughout the country,” the daily read.
“Here was Ankara's first serious test as a regional power: it is a test that it has so far failed. But any future resolution of the crisis must involve Turkey, as the only one of Syria's immediate neighbors capable of exerting influence.”
“But for all the talk of establishing a "safe haven" for refugees on the Syrian side of the Turkish border,” the daily added, “it never happened, most likely thanks to the combination of threats from Iran and a desire to avoid the risk of war with Syria. Ankara would also be conscious that, until 2000, Syria was the main supporter and base for the Turkish Kurd guerrillas – the PKK – and Damascus could unleash these once again.”
The British daily believed, however, that it would have been preferable if Turkey had not broken so wholly with the Syrian regime.
“As a result of Mr Erdogan's mis-playing of his cards, it is not the Turks but the Russians who have ended up as the one country with pivotal influence in Damascus.”
“But there is still time to take back the initiative. And if there is to be regional action, it would be better led by Turkey than Saudi Arabia and Qatar – not least to avoid the absurd hypocrisy of pretending that two of the last absolute monarchies on earth are trying to overthrow Mr Assad because of their concern for the democratic and civil rights of the Syrian people,” the article read.
“It is up to Ankara to take a lead,” the daily concluded.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian 
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