Turkey’ actions in the Middle East are those of an agent provocateur, political scientist Araik Stepanyan told Radio Sputnik.
Turkey’s actions in Syria and Iraq are encouragement for conflict in the region, and its status as a NATO member adds more potential for conflict, political scientist Araik Stepanyan said on Wednesday.
“NATO leadership has warned that if any military steps are taken in relation to Turkey, then that will be considered aggression against NATO. But how do we consider the issue of Turkey carrying out an act of aggression – invading a sovereign state? Who has responsibility here, Ankara or NATO?”
“I see Turkey’s role as that of provocateur. That is a provocateur in the Middle East, which wants to provoke a conflict between east and west.”
“Turkey’s aggression into Iraqi territory which is under the control of Daesh shows that Ankara is really working with terrorists, financing and arming them. That’s why the UN Security Council must pass the resolution under discussion, which calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops, because this is provoking a war between NATO and Iraq,” said Stepanyan.
Moscow’s concern at the possibility of Turkey taking further reckless steps to destabilize the Middle East is well founded, said the expert.
“That recklessness has not just appeared today. Turkish politics in the Middle East have always been directed recklessly towards its own national interests. But it always hides behind the ostensible interests of NATO and the international community. How many years did they bomb Kurdish positions in Syria, and said they were bombing terrorists.”
On Tuesday Turkey’s incursion into Iraq was discussed at a closed meeting of the UN Security Council, held at Russia’s request to discuss Turkish military actions in Iraq and Syria.
“We hope that the unease which was expressed by the UN Secretary General and many members of the Security Council during the course of the meeting will cool down the hot heads in Ankara, so that they regulate the situation in Iraq according to the wishes of the Iraqi government,” said Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s permanent representative at the UN.
Churkin told RIA Novosti that Russia is expecting Turkey “not to take any kind of new reckless steps, including on the territory of Syria.”