I Assumed That Russia-Turkey Negotiations Have Failed: Karen Hovhannisyan

Expert on Kurdish and Turkish affairs Karen Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebook page: “Details of the negotiations between Russia and Turkey in Ankara have not been disclosed, but I assumed that the negotiations have failed. This is evidenced by the statement of the head of Turkey's military department about transitioning to plan B in Idlib.”

“Turkey has prepared alternative plans for the northwestern Idlib province of Syria if the agreement signed with Russia to maintain the ceasefire continues to be violated, and Ankara has already conveyed this message to its partners,” said Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

“Our main goal is to prevent migration and human tragedy. For this, we are trying to ensure a ceasefire and stop the bloodshed. We say, ‘Adhere to this agreement.’ We have checkpoints there. There is the Adana agreement, and there is the Sochi agreement with Russia. We say that this cannot continue,” Akar stated with agitation.

“We adhere to international law and agreements. We firmly express our legitimate demands. But if the ceasefire continues to be violated, we also have plans B and C. In any case, we say: Do not force us. Otherwise, our plans B and C are ready,” Akar declared in a bellicose tone.

“I assume that Akar’s plans B and C are military operations, the precedent for which already exists. These are the military operations ‘Euphrates Shield,’ ‘Olive Branch,’ and ‘Peace Spring.’ However, I do not think that Turkey will confront Russia here, but I do not exclude that it will leave Idlib to the Russians,” Hovhannisyan noted.