The in an interview with Radio Bremen about Turkey´s role in Syria and its intended buffer zone. Translated by Liveleak user DieKurdenRadio Bremen: Mr. Luders, when will Turkey intervene?
Michael Luders: First of all, Turkey won´t intervene because the current situation is what the Turkish government exactly wants: The Islamic State fights the Kurds in northern Syria at the Turkish border and ends thus the Kurdish dream of more autonomy and independence in Syria. At the same time, the Kurdish fighters in northern Syria are close allies of the Kurdistan Workers´ Party PKK which is banned in Turkey and Europe.
And the Turkish calculation works like this: They could actually reconcile with the Kurds - there is actually a peace process taking place with the Kurdish side for years. Turkey, however, has interrupted it - some even say they have buried that process. Instead, Turkey banks on the Islamic State, hoping to conquer the Kurds´ enclave at this point of the Turkish border and cause a crushing defeat for the Kurdish fighters.
Radio Bremen: We are all shocked about the brutality IS is practicing. Won´t this cause a policy shift for Turkey?
Michael Luders: That would surprise me. There is a very close organizational and logistical cooperation between the Turkish secret services and the Islamic State.
It is well known that fighters of the Islamic State are receiving medical treatment in Turkish hospitals. There are IS recruitment centers in Turkey. Two months ago, a video caused a stir in which apparently a Ramadan celebration was shown – organized by the Islamic State in Istanbul. There has been recently the release of 48 Turkish hostages who were captured in Mosul by the Islamic State in northern Iraq. In return for their release, nearly 150 Jihadists ready to use violence - including European fighters - from the IS milieu, are believed to have been
deported to Syria.
So there has been a very close cooperation between Ankara and the Islamic State. That´s
absolutely disconcerting. And the Turkish government probably makes a mistake by thinking it could use permanently the Islamic State as a means to an end. Because meanwhile, the Islamic State has become too strong – also due to Turkish help – to be controlled successfully in the medium term.
Radio Bremen: If the Parliament has now given its consent to military operations, is it just a mark, just a sign directed at anyone? Or why do they do this as you are saying that they won´t intervene anyway?
Michael Luders: The Turkish government pursues two goals: First, the weakening of political opponents. In the next step – so the Turkish consideration and therefore there has been the parliamentary decision you have mentioned before – a buffer zone is going to be established in northern Syria, possibly being protected and secured by Turkish soldiers and tanks.
Officially it is said to serve the protection of the Kurdish population, but actually the
Turkish government plans – and that´s obvious – the opening of a second front, namely against the Syrian power holder Assad whose overthrow Turkey wants bring to pass at any cost.
And it is also attempted to provoke the NATO mutual defence clause by deploying Turkish troops in northern Syria. Because the Syrian government has clearly indicated that it wouldn´t agree with a permanent deployment of Turkish troops in Syrian territory.
Radio Bremen: So it is reluctant regarding military engagement. At the same time Turkey hosts Kurdish refugees from Syria. Is this a contradiction for you?
Michael Luders: It is certainly a contradictory policy, but most refugees who have come so far - more than a million now - are less Kurds rather than Sunni Arabs. But there are now 40,000, 50,000, 60,000 - the exact numbers are unknown - Kurdish refugees in Turkey. In this manner, the Turkish government underlines the humanitarian aspects of its mission. But this is just a pretext.
The strategic goal of Turkey is clear: an end to all Kurdish autonomy movements just as the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. A very dangerous strategy, because behind Bashar al-Assad are Russia and Iran, both of which have made it clear that they won´t let him fall. So the doors have been opened for an internalization of that crisis. And it also shows that the fight against the Islamic State is very complicated because each of the regional actors has completely different geopolitical interests.
Interview by Anja Goerz
Orginial German source: http://www.radiobremen.de/politik/alle-artikel/kurdische-kaempfe100.html
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