Turkey seeks allies in fight against Islamic State – a snake which was nurtured in the arms of Turkey itself, says expert

YEREVAN, JULY 5, ARMENPRESS. Turkey is seeking for allies to fight against the “Islamic State”, which it nurtured in its arms, says expert in Turkish studies Anush Hovhannisyan. “Turkey has appeared in a difficult situation due to its very own policy, and this is linked with the steps aimed at normalizing ties with Russia. Turkey was once cooperating with the “Islamic State” – fighting the Kurds, but recently it started cooperating with the “Jabhat Al-Nusra” terrorist organization. The response of the “Islamic State” wasn’t late, and now Turkey is seeking allies to fight against the snake which has bitten it and was nurtured by it in its own arms”, Hovhannisyan said, linking this with Turkey’s announcements on cooperating with Russia in the fight against terrorism.

Anush Hovhannisyan says although Turkey speaks about the fight against terrorism and seeks allies in the fight against “Islamic State”, this however doesn’t mean that it will stop assisting the terrorists it wants.

Speaking on media reports that Turkey is ready to provide the Incirlik Air Base to Russia in the context of fight against terrorism – which was later refuted – Hovhannisyan noted that Turkey couldn’t have made such announcements without prior agreements with its NATO partners.

“That area is Turkey’s territory, but it is rented by its NATO partners, therefore Çavuşoğlu is not authorized to make similar announcements without agreeing with its NATO partners. In addition, the Syrian HmeimimAir Base in under the control of the Russians, and there was no announcement on the need of using an additional Air Base”, Anush Hovhannisyan added.

Earlier there were reports that Turkey is ready to provide the Incirlik Air Base to Russia. The Russian side considered this as a friendly step. Later these reports were refuted by Turkey’s Foreign Minister.