American diplomat Matthew Bryza answers Vestnik Kavkaza’s questions on the situation on the Turkish-Syrian border and intensification of Turkey’s participation in the anti-terrorist struggle in the Middle East.
- How will the international community treat the Turkish-American coalition’s fighting on the Syrian territory?
- I believe the international community will welcome the effort of the U.S.-led coalition to defeat the so-called Islamic State, of which Turkey has now become an active participant. Indeed, all people who oppose Islamist extremism, including those in Russia who support Syrian President Bashar al Assad, understand how important it is to defeat the medieval hatred and extreme intolerance that drives the Islamic State's barbarism.
- Should we expect serious military involvement of the U.S. in the fighting?
- We should expect a serious bombing campaign from the air against the Islamic State in Syria and led by U.S. military aircraft, including 30 F-16's bound for Incirlilk Airbase. I would not, however, expect the presence of U.S., Turkish, or other Coalition troops entering Syria in significant numbers in the near future.
- How do you think Turkey will limit its fight to Islamic State or it will also fight against Kurdish extremists – PKK?
- No, Turkey will definitely not limit its fight to the Islamic State. Turkey's main military target in its newly announced fight against all forms of terrorism has been the PKK. Turkey's air attacks over the last two weeks have in fact targeted only the PKK in Iraq, with no air attacks against the Islamic State in Syria. These attacks are part of a domestic political effort by the AKP to undermine the strength of the pro-Kurdish HDP political party in the hope of regaining a majority in a Parliament if there are snap elections in Turkey in coming months.
The United States is eager for Ankara to join it in focusing on the Islamic State as the primary enemy and hopes the Turkish Government will resume its effort to reconcile with its Kurdish population.
It is difficult for many in Washington to understand why Turkey would chose to focus its fight on Kurds when Kurdish fighters have played the most important role in stopping the Islamic State in Syria. At the same time, Washington also appreciates Turkey's discomfort with the ethnic balance in northern Syria being disrupted by a new influx of Kurds.
