MESOP TODAYS COMMENTARY BY JERUSALEM POST – Analysis: How will Putin react to ambassador’s assassination in Turkey?

20 Dec 2016 ——– It does not seem that the shooting will derail efforts to stabilize Syria. On Tuesday, talks are scheduled to begin in Moscow among Russia, Iran and Turkey, as well as others, on a possible diplomatic ending to the ongoing war in Syria.

The interests of these three countries are greater than an isolated incident, even the murder of an ambassador. Erdogan’s interests in Syria are also limited in their scope – he wants to ensure that a Kurdish entity will not be established along his country’s border. Putin’s interests are different.

As demonstrated by Russia’s disproportionate bombing of civilian targets – including schools, hospitals and orphanages – in Aleppo, Putin is using the same methods that were effective in quelling the Chechnyan insurgency some 10 years ago.Together with Iran, Putin wants to stabilize Assad and restore his sovereignty over as much of Syria as possible.This is just the first stage in Russia’s ultimate goal of establishing itself as a superpower in a region that was left in a vacuum by outgoing US President Barack Obama.  Read all http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Analysis-How-will-Putin-react-to-ambassadors-assassination-in-Turkey-475905