MESOP MIDEAST WATCH: THE KURDS & UKRAINE !
MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 9658 Russian Commentator Akopov To Erdogan: Don’t Butt In On Ukraine Just Like Russia Doesn’t Butt In On Kurdish Issue
Turkey’s President Recep Tayip Erdogan offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
The senior Ria Novosti commentator Petr Akopov poured water on the idea. Ukraine has become a Western puppet and since Turkey is still a NATO member, Ankara cannot be regarded as an even-handed mediator. In words ominous for Ukraine, Akopov emphasized that Ukraine’s independence is accidental and Kiev is part of the “Russian world”. Ukraine’s existence is ephemeral, and does not resemble Turkey and Russia’s long-lasting proximity to each other. Turkey has no business projecting itself into the dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the same way that Russia would never think of injecting itself into the Kurdish question.
Akopov’s commentary follows below:
Petr Akopov (Infosmi.net)
“Turkey is ready to act as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine. The Turkish President announced this upon his return from a visit to Turkmenistan. Recep Erdogan says he wants peace in the region:
“‘Our position on the tension between Ukraine and Russia is known. We favor the supremacy of peace in the region, and first of all, taking into account the Crimean Turks issue. We have discussed and are discussing such issues many times with friendly Russia, especially with Mr. Putin. We do not want this region to become a region where war prevails. Let this region move into the future as a region in which peace reigns. We want this topic to develop in a positive direction. For this we are ready to both mediate and discuss this issue with the parties We would like to be part of the solution to this issue, developing a dialogue both with Ukraine and with Mr Putin.'”
“Good offer? No – and in ‘friendly Russia’ it will arouse only the most negative reaction.
“Yes, Russia also wants the Black Sea region ( and this is precisely what Erdogan had in mind) to be peaceful. This is in the interest of all its countries of which Russia and Turkey are not only the largest, but also the most important. Although Turkey is a NATO member, its relations with Russia under Erdogan and Putin have become much more serious and close – but there are other forces in the region. The external ones are Atlanticists, that is, the very NATO, of which Turkey is also a member. Yes, Erdogan often pursues an independent policy – but in Russia they remember how in November 2015, after downing our Su-24, they began calling from Ankara to Brussels, to NATO headquarters. Russia is ready to strengthen its relations with Turkey, to build strategic plans, but at the same time we must consider its membership in an alliance that is openly hostile to us.”