Burhan Özkoşar says Syrian crisis damages Turkey's position in region

Burhan Özkoşar, a Turkish political analyst living in France, told Vestnik Kavkaz, that Turkey's foreign policy -aimed at good relations with its neighbours - has failed because of the country's participation in the Syrian crisis.

The expert blames the United States for forcing Turkey to interfere in the Syrian conflict. "Everything has changed in the last few years as the US is trying to strengthen its position in the Middle East," the expert says.

He underlines however that Turkey cannot ignore the crisis either. The situation affects the whole region and first of all Iran, he believes.