Statements on the results of the Sochi summit of guarantor states on Syria demonstrate that the Adana agreement between Syria and Turkey, intended to protect Turkey's southern border from security threats, is valid and that its implementation is likely to be sought after following the withdrawal of United States forces from Syria, member of the Syrian parliament Ahmad Kuzbari told Sputnik
WARSAW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th February, 2019) Statements on the results of the Sochi summit of guarantor states on Syria demonstrate that the Adana agreement between Syria and Turkey, intended to protect Turkey's southern border from security threats, is valid and that its implementation is likely to be sought after following the withdrawal of United States forces from Syria, member of the Syrian parliament Ahmad Kuzbari told Sputnik.
On Thursday, Sochi hosted the fourth summit of the presidents of the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor states Russia's Vladimir Putin, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran's Hassan Rouhani. The Turkish leader said after the summit that Ankara expected assistance from its partners on the Astana format to prevent the emergence of a terrorist corridor on the Syrian-Turkish border. Putin, for his part, said that after US troops leave Syria, the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad must restore complete control of northern Syria.
"First of all, the Syrian government has confirmed its position clearly that the presence of any forces on Syrian territory without the consent of Damascus is illegal and contravenes the Charter of the United Nations and international law. President Putin's statement confirms Erdogan's acceptance of the Adana agreement and I think they will work toward activating it on the ground if the Americans withdraw," Kuzbari said.
The lawmaker added that the question now was: "Will we see a new de-escalation area be announced at the next Astana meeting?"
The Adana agreement was signed by Syria and Turkey on October 20, 1998, and aimed to restore bilateral relations following a crisis that arose due to Syria sheltering militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is officially listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey. According to the agreement, Syria had to halt PKK activities on its territory, including a ban on logistical, material and financial support for the group, as well as prohibit establishing camps, shelters and facilities for militant training. Turkey, in turn, gained the opportunity to take appropriate measures to deter the terrorist threat.
The presence of US troops in Syria has removed the issue of security at Turkey's southern border from the agenda of relations between Ankara and Damascus, since Turkey could hold its military operations against Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
The United States has been operating in Syria at the helm of an international coalition since 2014, without securing approval from either Damascus or the United Nations Security Council. Late last year, US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, but no official deadlines have been set so far. After the US forces leave Syria, Ankara will have to decide on how to maintain security at the border with Syria. The Adana agreement prescribes that Ankara may conduct a military operation to protect its borders if Syria fails to eliminate the Kurdish threat for Turkey.
