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Turkey Adopts More Tender Attitude Towards Syria

© AFP 2023 / OZAN KOSESyrian men sit under a Turkish flag in Gaziantep, southern Turkey. file photo
Syrian men sit under a Turkish flag  in Gaziantep, southern Turkey. file photo - Sputnik International
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It seems that Turkey is scrapping its failed policy of pressuring Syria, political analyst Atilla Sandikli told Sputnik.

Men inspect damage after an air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held al-Shaar neighbourhood, Syria June 8, 2016 - Sputnik International
Turkish Boomerang: Ankara Almost Lost in Syria, Faces Rebellion at Home
In an interview with Sputnik, Atilla Sandikli, head of the Center For Strategic Studies BILGESAM, specifically pointed to Turkey's attempts to scrap its policy of using pressure in dealing with Syria.

The interview came after Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a televised address to the people of Turkey on Wednesday that Ankara needs to normalize relations with Syria in order to effectively fight terrorism.

Sandikli, for his part, pointed out that "within the framework of the formation of the system of values and international relations, Turkish authorities realize the ineffectiveness of the policy of pressure."

"Reviewing its relations with friendly countries, allies and counterparts, Ankara is gradually moving towards the search for a strategy that would take into account the mutual interests of all parties," he said.

Sandikli also stressed the importance of the current normalization of Russian-Turkish relations in ensuring peace in Syria and throughout the Middle East.

"I want to emphasize that the first steps on bolstering ties between Turkey and Russia are of great importance. But to enhance the positive effect of this process, Turkish authorities should cooperate more with Moscow as far as Syria and the Middle East are concerned," he said.

At the same time, he said that even though Ankara has decided to change its foreign policy approach to the Syrian conflict, it has not completely abandoned its previous position on Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during an iftar event in Ankara, Turkey, June 27, 2016 - Sputnik International
Sinking Ship? Erdogan Apologized to Russia to 'Save Himself'
On June 27, the Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a letter addressed to Vladimir Putin, apologized for the downing of a Russian Su-24 attack aircraft by a Turkish jet in November 2015 and extended his condolences to the family of the pilot killed in the incident.

The letter of apology was followed by a phone conversation between Erdogan and Putin, during which they agreed to hold a personal meeting later this year.

By doing so, Ankara fulfilled one of the conditions put forward by Moscow following the incident that paralyzed the long-term partnership between the two countries.

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