Journalist Ozugurlu Musa (Musa Özuğurlu), known for his articles on the Syrian issue, in an interview with BirGün said the talks on Syria, held in Astana on the initiative of Turkey and Russia. Ozugurlu emphasized that Astana is “a first step”, said: many of the organizations involved in the negotiations, close to the ideology of “al-Qaeda” (banned in Russia — approx. ed.).
Zeynep Kuray: How do you assess the talks on Syria, which began in Astana?
Musa Ozugurlu: Some reason to be optimistic there, but, of course, this does not mean that there is no problem. First of all, in these negotiations involved all parties in Syria. From this point of view, the absence of the Party “Democratic Union” (PYD) — a big gap. Obviously, it is the result of a number of objections and settlement of Turkey. Russia, as she anyway wants to find a solution to the Syrian problem, yet accepts this request of Turkey, but I don’t think Russia is going to isolate the Kurds, because it considers that in these negotiations was presented to all participants of the events in Syria.
It’s not a real opposition
— If you look at the profile of groups participating in the negotiations, can they really be called opposition?
An organization called “opposition” and left out the Kurds and opposition groups, which are not seen and not heard in Syria, or otherwise act in accordance with the ideology of “al-Qaeda”, diluted or concentrated. Some of them — a direct derivative of “al-Qaeda”: LIH, “al-Nusra” (banned in Russia — approx. ed.), “Ahrar al-sham”… LIH and “al-Nusra” were formally excluded from negotiations due to the fact that the whole world in one way or another come to an agreement about these organizations; but as for the other groups, since it is assumed that Turkey will have an impact on them and yet do not want to remove from these talks, Russia, in order not to offend Ankara turns a blind eye to what Turkey calls these groups “moderate”. In this issue played the role of bilateral and economic relations between Russia and Turkey.
Astana — the first step
— What is the role of Turkey?
Turkey today is in a state of war with the Kurds and does not want, that they somehow were represented in Syrian politics. Turkey wants the Syrian government has described the PYD (Party “Democratic Union) as a “terrorist organization.” But so far the Syrian government has avoided this. I follow Syrian media, and, for example, in the mass media, which are directly under the control of the state, the people’s protection Units (YPG) are always referred to as “popular defence forces”. This shows that in the future, in the case of promotion in Astana in the direction of the desired political settlement of the Damascus sit down at the negotiating table with the Kurds. Thus, Astana in this process should be seen as a first step.
