MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : THE MERKEL-MACRON-PUTIN-ERDOGAN MEETING AN A REALISTIC FORECAST ABOUT SYRIA

COMMENTARIES BY GALLIA LINDENSTRAUSS –  – HENRI BARKEY & JOSHA LANDIS (ASSAD’s academic Voice in US)

Gallia Lindenstrauss Retweeted  – Henri Barkey‏ @hbarkey  28 Oct 2018

The problem is I’m not sure anyone in US government notices how the ground is shifting. Under normal circumstances neither Merkel nor Macron would have ventured into such a meeting.

The real importance of France & Germany going to Turkey to meet Putin & Erdogan is that they are effectively hiving off from the US by joining the Astana process. They are breaking boycott of #Syria, while preserving the “need…

may safely conclude that Assad will not permit any “political process” or constitutional committee to dislodge him or bring members of the opposition to power in Damascus. He has won the war.

Joshua Landis‏Verified account @joshua_landis 17h17 hours ago

Europe is frightened for its security. It does not want the refugee situation nor the Jihadi situation in Europe to be made worse by an Idlib invasion. This is why Europe is in Istanbul. As Macron said, the Idlib deal my be sustained.

Joshua Landis‏Verified account @joshua_landis 17h17 hours ago

Russia has reiterated that the Idlib deal is temporary. The jihadists must be killed or arrested. But Russia wants the EU to engage and commit to reconstruction aid for Syria, which can help refugees return.

Joshua Landis‏Verified account @joshua_landis 17h17 hours ago

Europe is angry at the U.S. for unilaterally scuttling the Iran deal and possibly crushing the Iranian economy, which could further destabilize the region and lead to an even greater refugee flow toward Europe. The US policy is very bad for Europe.

Joshua Landis‏Verified account @joshua_landis 17h17 hours ago

Turkey, Syria, Iran and Russia want to drive the US out of North Syria and end its alliance with the YPG.

There are many competing agendas among the different sides in Istanbul, but this is an important step forward, breaking with America’s stated goal of boycotting Syria so long as Assad remains in power.

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