World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (April 10, 2012)

Hurriyet published an article by Murat Yetkin headlined 'Syrian situation gets serious'. The article came as the Turkish Foreign Minister summoned  the Syrian charge d’affaires. According to the author, the ministry warned the Syrian diplomat about possible consequences that oppression of the protests may lead to. "The word “consequences” could be stretched up to military action in diplomacy, but as of yesterday the Turkish Armed Forces have not been put on alert yet. Despite holding one of the most active positions regarding the violence used by the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria against its own people, Ankara doesn’t want to get involved in a unilateral military action against its southern neighbor; not without a United Nations initiative," the article reads.

The same topic is touched upon in the article by Mehmet Ali Birand entitled 'Shifting toward close combat with Syria'. "Turkey alone continues to lead the Syrian opposition in the region. Moreover, because of its influential position, the eyes of the West, from Washington to Paris, are on Ankara," the author says, asking "Well, what will happen after this?" According to Birand, it is impossible for Erdoğan to stay just a spectator. The Turkish Prime Minister is constantly giving signs that he would not anyway, the author underlines. "The latest news shows that the number of refugees is increasing. With the rate of this increase, the probability that a buffer zone will be formed inside Syrian territory is also increasing. The official name of this is an invasion of Syria. Take one more step and it means Turkey and Syria are at war," the author says.

The Guardian also published an article on the Syrian crisis. The author of the article underlined that violence continues despite the UN-sponsored ceasefire. "Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, claimed in a report that Syrian security forces had summarily executed more than 100 civilians and wounded or captured opposition fighters during recent attacks on cities and towns. Many of the incidents took place in March this year," the article reads.