MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : PREPARING FINAL DECISION SYRIA / ERDOGAN GOES NUCLEAR / THE NEW AXIS MOSCOW – ANKARA

Syria Daily: Russia, Turkey, Iran Presidents in Summit

By Scott Lucas – eaworldview – 4 April 2018  

The presidents of Russia, Turkey, and Iran — Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Hassan Rouhani — will confer in Ankara on Wednesday about the Syrian conflict.The summit comes as Russia — in violation of “de-escalation zones” agreed between the three countries last year — enables pro-Assad forces to take over East Ghouta near Damascus.

Meanwhile, Turkey has moved alongside rebels to capture almost all of the Kurdish canton of Afrin in northwest Syria.At the same time, Turkish forces are setting up a ring of observation posts around opposition-held Idlib and northern Hama Provinces, preventing a further advance of a pro-Assad offensive supported by Russian airstrikes. But despite the Turkish presence, Russian and regime warplanes have continued to bomb the area, with an escalation of attacks this week.The maneuvers have been seen as part of an ongoing deal between Turkey and Russia since their reconciliation in August 2016, with Ankara — a leading backer of the opposition since the Syrian rising began in March 2011 — accepting the Russian and Iranian support of the Assad regime’s takeover of Aleppo city and areas in the south. In return, Russia has acceded to the Turkish military intervention in the northwest.

Erdoğan, Putin Discuss Missiles, Nuclear Energy

In bilateral discussions on Tuesday, Erdoğan and Putin announced that Moscow will speed up delivery of advancedS-400 air defense missile systems to Ankara.“This is an issue of commerce. Companies are working on it,” Putin said.Erdoğan knocked back Western countries who have criticized the deal: “This issue is now closed.”

Russian officials said in December that the first deliveries in the $2 billion deal were likely to begin at the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020.Earlier in the day, the two leaders launched the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, located in Mersin Province in the south of the country, with a ceremony in Ankara.The Akkuyu power station, costing more than $20 billion, was started in February 2015 but put on hold after Turkish-Russian relations were at breaking point in November 2015, following Ankara’s downing of a Russian Su-24 jet en route to attacking opposition targets in Syria.  The power station will provide 10% of the electricity needs of Turkey The first stage is due to come online in 2023, and the complex will be completed in 2026.  www.mesop.de