Turkey warns Russia over border security

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Turkey has warnedRussiait has every right to retaliate and take necessary measures in the event its border security is threatened as a result of theRussianmilitary’s operations targeting civilian Turkmen Syrians on the Turkish-Syrian border.

The warning was conveyed toRussianAmbassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov on Nov. 19 as he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in reaction toRussianair strikes on Turkmen villages in northwestern Syria only a few kilometers from the Turkish border daily Hürriyet has learned from reliable sources.

Along with Karlov Russia’s military attaché was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry where three points were reportedly brought to Moscow’s attention. Those three points were defined as follows:

1-The operations of theRussianarmy were taking place in areas very close to Turkey’s border. This increased the possibility of a de facto situation which could threaten Turkey’s border security. It should be noted Turkey’s rules of engagement were in place and there will be no hesitation to implement them if such a violation occurs.

2-The area whereRussianoperations were being conducted was free of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or other terrorist groups. There are Turkmens living in this area. Civilians Turkmens were being harmed by Russia’s operations. It should be noted Turkey won’t be indifferent to attacks targeting the life security of Turkmen.

3-Military operations cause more civilians to leave their homes. A new refugee influx is at the door. Russia’s operations in that particular region could also hurt Turkey’s humanitarian efforts as well.

TurkeyRussiain close dialogue

Turkey andRussiacontinued their dialogue over the weekend Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirliolu told Hürriyet on Nov. 23 adding he also talked to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on late Nov. 20.Sinirliolu said he shared Turkey’s concerns over the recent military campaign targeting Turkmens just across the Turkish border in his conversation with both hisRussianandAmericancounterparts.

The issue will also be on the agenda of a meeting between the Turkish andRussianforeign ministers who will come together on Nov. 25 in Istanbul. The meeting will address a number of bilateral economic and energy issues as part of preparations for the Turkey-Russia high-level cooperation council meeting to take place on Dec. 15 in Moscow. However Sinirliolu and Lavrov will also discuss Syria-related issues as well with a particular emphasis on Russia’s recent military operations along the border.

Assad in efforts to open a corridor to Idlib

In response to Turkey’s statementsRussiandiplomatic and military sources argued the targets of their operations were terrorist groups and they did not conduct attacks on Turkmens.

However according to assessments by counties in the U.S.-led coalitionRussiaand Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime were trying to open a corridor to Idlib a northern city under the control of a coalition of opposition forces.Attacks being carried out around Jisr al-Shughur a northern Syrian town only 20 kilometers from the Turkish border aimed to take control of this very strategic spot to reach Idlib the assessments indicated.

The Moscow-Damascus duo was trying to increase the area under their influence before the ceasefire to be implemented on Jan 1 2016 according to the coalition countries. They believed al-Assad is trying to strengthen his authority in areas under his control and at the same establish a buffer zone around the enclave he is ruling.

Turkmens keep their positions

In the meantime Sinirliolu admitted Turkmens were under heavy attack but underlined they were still able to keep their positions despite stories claiming the regime army gained control of the Kzlda region a strategic point in northwestern Syria.

Damascus claimed they were advancing towards the north thanks toRussianair support. “They are sometimes advancing sometimes pulling back” Sinirliolu said.

By Deniz Zeyrek