Turkey, Syrian Opposition Weighing Options, 14 February 2012 Tuesday 8:43

Turkey, Syrian Opposition Weighing Options, 14 February 2012 Tuesday 8:43



clipped from article: In the absence of a united international position and a fractious opposition, the prospect of a safe zone backed by Turkey doesn't appear to be an immediate option. Turkey has said it would intervene only with UN support or in the event of mass refugee flows, in which case it could call upon NATO Allies to protect its border.

Calls to support the FSA -- which is relying largely on the weapons the defectors took with them -- are likely to mount as defections rise, diplomatic options fail, and the violence of the Syrian regime continues unabated.

According the Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, assistant professor at the Gazi University International Relations Department, instead of direct intervention, indirect methods of undermining the Assad regime, including a greater role for the FSA, could gain greater weight going forward.

Yurter Ozcan, the founder and president of the Turkish Policy Centre in Washington, told SES Türkiye that even if a NATO strike similar to the one in Libya is not on the table, increased efforts could be made to cause defection among the Syrian Army, and integrate them into the FSA.

He says that NATO countries will likely play a role going forward and Turkey will be heavily involved in those efforts through logistics, providing training and arms to the FSA, but will shy away from portraying this as NATO effort. [read more at link]