World: Middle East
Turkey losing patience with Syria
Sunday, October 4, 1998 Published at
17:39 GMT 18:39 UK
The Turkish President, Suleiman Demirel, has repeated his
warning that time is running out for Syria to stop supporting the Kurdish rebel
movement, the PKK.
The Turkish government is awaiting the arrival of
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, who has already visited Damascus in an effort
to mediate between Turkey and Syria.
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President Assad of Syria has
already made his views known to Hosni Mubarak
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Turkish officials say they welcome President Mubarak's
mediation efforts because they want international attention focused on Syrian
support for the PKK. They also want a diplomatic solution to the problem.
Turkey presented a series of proposals for a new start
with Syria three months ago, but officials say they have not received a reply
from Damascus.
The BBC's Ankara correspondent, Chris Morris, says the
Syrians have their own complaints about Turkish behaviour, but it is the
government in Ankara which has decided to raise the stakes in a relationship
which has never been easy.
The Turkish military is particularly frustrated by Syrian
support for the PKK. Every time the military says the rebel movement is on the
verge of defeat, the war drags on.
Our correspondent says the generals want someone to blame
and Syria is as good a candidate as any. If Syrian policy does not change, some
elements in the Turkish military may well believe the only solution is to stage
operations against the PKK inside Syrian territory, using air strikes or even
ground troops, like they do on a regular basis in Kurdish-controlled Northern
Iraq.
A decision to do that would shake the entire region,
which is why the Turkish foreign ministry appears more cautious - but
politicians from all parties have made it clear that Turkey's patience is
wearing extremely thin.
Relations between Turkey and Syria deteriorated
dramatically on Thursday, when the Turkish President, Suleiman Demirel, warned
Damascus that patience was running out over alleged Syrian support for Kurdish
separatists.
Syria, for its part, is critical of Turkey's military
ties with Israel, and has accused Turkey of taking more than its share of water
from the Euphrates River.
There have been fears the tension between the two
countries, who share a 877km (550 mile) border, could lead to military
confrontation.
The head of the Turkish armed forces, General Huseyin
Kivrikoglu, has described the situation as an undeclared war, but both sides
insist they want a diplomatic solution.
"I am ready to do everything possible in Damascus
and Ankara [to reduce the tension]," Mr Mubarak told reporters on
Saturday, after a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he discussed the crisis with
King Fahd.
Israel moves to calm situation
Israel says its strategic ties with Turkey are not
directed at Syria or any other country.
A statement by the Defence Minister, Yitzhak Mordechai,
said Israel was not looking for a conflict with Damascus. Mr Mordechai has
ordered the army to adopt a low profile on the Syrian border.
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General Huseyin Kivrikoglu -
"undeclared war"
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On Sunday, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent
Ecevit, said his country wanted a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
"Turkey ... is working to solve all its problem with
Syria through peaceful means and diplomatic channels," Mr Ecevit was
quoted as saying.
"But Turkey cannot not make even the smallest
concession on its rights and security," he said.
On Friday, Turkey sent some 10,000 soldiers into Iraq to
attack Kurdish rebels there, and there have been reports that Turkey is
considering a similar incursion into Syria.
Growing tension
The growing tension between the two countries has provoked
accute concern in the Arab world.
The BBC middle east correspondent says President Mubarak
is well-placed to mediate because he has maintained good relations with both
countries.
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President Mubarak enjoys good
relations with Syria and Turkey
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While he has been forthright in his criticism of Turkey's
military ties with Israel, he has kept on good terms with Ankara.
Mr Mubarak has also managed to cultivate warm relations
with Syria despite Egypt's own truce with Israel.
Egypt is particularly concerned about the dispute because
it feels a strong responsibility towards the Middle East peace process.
Mr Mubarak has already conferred with President Assad of
Syria over the tension with Turkey, and Damascus has issued a statement
stressing its concern for good, neighbourly relations with Ankara, and its
readiness to settle differences by diplomatic means.
Turkey too, while adopting an increasingly threatening
tone, has said it wants a diplomatic solution.
But
a diplomatic solution will be difficult because the differences between Turkey
and Syria have defied resolution for many years.
