The_Guardian_-_2016-12-29

A tractor removes rubble as the Syrian government starts to clean up areas formerly held by
opposition forces in Aleppo. Photograph: AFP/Getty
Turkey is likely to demand that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are also excluded
from the Astana talks, even though with the help of the US they have led the offensive against Isis in
Raqqa. The US has been backing the SDF since 2015 with training, money and some arms.
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said on Tuesday night that the talks would include
representatives of the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as well as the opposition. But
he added: “We will not welcome a decision to invite terrorrist groups to the summit.”
Erdoğan made clear he regarded the US-supported SDF as terrorists, saying of the US: “They were
accusing us of supporting Daesh [Isis]. Now they give support to the terrorist groups including Daesh,
YPG, PYD. It’s very clear – we have confirmed evidence with pictures, photos and videos.”
Erdoğan also blamed the US for the difficulties Turkey was facing with the month-long al-Bab
offensive, accusing it of withholding support through aerial operations. “Even though the US-led
coalition has failed to keep its promises in our operation to liberate al-Bab, we will rid the city of
Daesh terrorists, no matter what.”
The Turkish air campaign has been criticised after 120 civilians were killed in the offensive.
Turkey for the past five years has been the sternest opponent of Assad and broadly aligned with
Europe, but appears in the middle of a major diplomatic manoeuvre by allying itself more with
Moscow than Washington.
Ankara was noticeably silent during the Iranian-Russian backed assault on east Aleppo, the single
biggest reverse of the Syrian opposition.
Turkey’s ultimate goal is unclear, and is made more complex by the imminent arrival of the US
president-elect, Donald Trump, who has yet to formulate a coherent Syria policy.
The UN, seeking to stay relevant in the face of the diplomatic initiative being led by the Russian
president, Vladimir Putin, has said it will restart its stalled peace talks in Geneva in February, raising
the possibility of two parallel peace processes.
Russia has insisted its peace negotiations will complement the UN-led talks rather than conflict with
them.