Star. Turkey
Sept 30 2017


Did We Reach Agreement With Putin or Over Which Issues Can We Reach Agreement?


by Sevil Nuriyeva

[Armenian News note: the below is translated from Turkish]

Why did Russia for days, contrary to expectations, not issue very
strong statements about the referendum in Northern Iraq?

First of all, there is one issue that we should be aware of! As a
state, Russia is a federal entity. And as far as Russia is concerned
and in line with its founding philosophy, realization of a people's
own wishes within the framework of autonomy is acceptable. However,
there is a limit to that! It is normal for Russia to extend its
backing to Kurds who want autonomy in Northern Iraq. However, Russia
cannot possibly say ''yes'' to independence.

It is very clear; if Russia says ''yes'' to a situation that poses a
threat to Iraq's territorial integrity, it then opens the door to the
autonomy of Turkish Muslims in Russia such as Tatarstan, Dagestan,
Chechnya, Bashkortostan, and their demands for independence in the
future! This is tantamount to Russia's collapse. Therefore, as far as
Russia is concerned, an autonomous Kurdistan province in Northern Iraq
is something that needs to be backed within Iraqi lands.

Secondly, given that Russia strongly objected to the ethnic cleansing
of or demographic changes against the ethnic Russians in the Donetsk
and Luhansk regions in Ukraine, it cannot accept the cleansing against
the Turkmen in Kirkuk. Otherwise, its demands in Ukraine will be
refuted. On the other hand, while seeking to get everyone to agree to
a referendum in Crimea, Russia cannot strongly object to Erbil's
referendum.

Russia is in favour of establishing dialogue with the Kurds in an
environment of chaos without taking on Turkey and Iran and absolutely
without having a favourable view of the independence. At a time when
everyone is at loggerheads with each other, Russia does not wish to
lose the arbitrator role to the Americans. In such a situation, by
using a calm language, Russia is seeking, absolutely without having a
favourable view of the independence, to become a state confessed as
''desirable and invited forces'' [as received] at the table. This
situation will, in the future, strengthen Russia's hand and help the
country always to have a say in terms of its dominance in the former
Soviet landscape.

One should not forget that in the past Russia always used the red
Kurdistan as an anti-Turkey force against Turkey, a NATO ally, and to
bypass Turkey's alliance with the Turkish Muslim communities in its
region. Turkey enjoys some serious significance in the Caucasus and in
Russia. This is not only true for the present time. The bond Tatars,
Chechens, Bashkirs, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Sakhas, and Circassians have
with Turkey, despite them being evacuated [as received], are still
strong. Given the likelihood that this may cause problems in the
future, Russia sees the entity in Iraq and the Kurdish leverage in
Syria as some leverage that can be used [as received].

Putin does not wish to lose Erdogan at all because he sees Erdogan as
a serious figure in terms of global balance. Turkey's and Erdogan's
stance is one fact that saves Putin from being ''the only target.''
Turkey's power in Russia's sphere of influence and its definition is
something that cannot be grasped for the time being. Putin is aware of
that! Given his statist stance, his wish to liberate Russia from
pressures, and his awareness of the ambition of the US political
establishment to finish him off, Turkey and Erdogan are for him an
indescribable support. That is why efforts of the Armenian and Jewish
lobby, which is seriously vocal in the Russian media, to create an
anti-Turkey public opinion are growing by the day. That the
Anglo-Saxon alliance and the Israeli lobby keep this alive is a
serious situation that should not be ignored.

Russia is currently advocating the integrity of the state in Syria and
Iraq just like Turkey is doing. In the meantime, Russia is hoping that
oil prices will drop in this chaotic environment. When there is a war,
its arms sales will increase and this means a contribution to Russian
economy. Therefore, it is not right to expect Putin to use a stronger
language than the one he is currently using. In this situation, Russia
will be active in the region and consolidate dialogue with everyone.
Russia's own fate depends on this. To those ignorant people who are
incapable of assessing Turkey's value even though they live in Turkey,
I make the following suggestion, ''reread the codes of this nation.''
Scientific political path is currently the path that is most
desperately needed. We will not be humiliated nor will we humiliate!
Turkey is strong enough to decide both its own fate and the fate of
the world of Islam through scientific politics, national codes, state
reason as well as its political and national will. As for the
worst-case scenarios of certain people, this is part of the operation
against Turkey. Those who have a path, faith, and cause will
undoubtedly reach their goal.