The language Assad deserves

The new policies of opening, normalization or rapprochement that Turkey has recently undertaken with countries with which it has had problems for years are a reflection of its concerns and good-faith approach, especially for regional peace, stability, security and development. When long-unresolved problems in the region have turned into knots, even Alexander's sword cannot always provide a solution. If the knots have taken shapes that swords cannot reach and cannot cut, other policies must be tried.

Securing justice is of course an ideal, but if the capacity for the sanctions that securing it requires cannot be formed, if the power that such sanctions require cannot be gathered, another way of untying this knot must be sought. And that way is, of course, to call politics onto the field. At such a point, turning to politics and being able to draw the matter onto a political-diplomatic ground requires a separate courage.

Erdoğan also shows courage in moving toward an opening with many countries lately. Starting a new process on the assumption of the road paved by the enmities that have occurred in between, the open stances that have been taken, and so many harsh words that have been said is not so easy. But when, assuming these obstacles, no step is taken, the region can become more open to every kind of foreign intervention, and the harm of this is suffered not only by Turkey but by all the peoples of the region.

The openings that Turkey has initiated with the Gulf countries have found, and are finding, their mark. A much better world can be built in the region with the cooperation of all these countries. The Islamic world as a whole can be positively affected by this rapprochement and cooperation, and many problems can enter a path to resolution thanks to these relations.

But when the subject is Syria, it is not so easy to say that this diplomatic ground has formed. Although Erdoğan, setting out on a trip abroad and asked a question, displayed an unexpected openness by saying "There is nothing preventing me from meeting with Assad," the situation is not at a level that could feed this optimism. Neither does Assad deserve such an outstretched hand, nor do the circumstances in Syria.

In fact, Assad's readmission to the Arab League, without any reasoning, as the one responsible for so many problems in his own country, creates a situation in which the Arab League ought to question its own function and reason for existence. Today, because of the crimes against humanity that Assad has committed against his own citizens in his own country, at least 12 million Syrian Arabs have been reduced to a wretched condition all over the world, above all in Turkey. As though it were not enough that he attacked their lives, property and honor in his own country, the pitiable situation to which the people who were forced to flee the country are exposed today ought to concern the Arab League, as Arabs, before anyone else. What is being done to Arabs in the world because of Assad? Should the countries of the Arab League not feel shame about this? Does the fact that Arabs are in the position of refugees here and there, still deprived of the most basic conditions of a decent life, not make them reflect and warn them, even a little, in terms of Arab honor?

Assad, the cause of this situation that should have bowed the heads of Arab leaders, was hosted by Arab leaders in recent days, and with the cockiness of this hospitality he lashed out at Erdoğan. He was even able to put forward conditions against the possibility of Erdoğan meeting him. He said that, without the withdrawal from Syrian territory, where he says Turkish soldiers are present as occupiers, there is nothing to discuss with Erdoğan. Assad, who said "Our goal is Turkey's withdrawal from Syrian territory, while Erdoğan's aim is to try to legitimize Turkey's presence in Syria. Therefore a meeting cannot take place under Erdoğan's conditions," also used the expressions "Why should I meet with Erdoğan? To drink fruit juice?"

In fact these words are like a warning that some people must never be treated otherwise than as they deserve. At least 5 million people from among those fleeing his own massacres (1, 5 million of whom have gone back to European countries or to safe places in Syria) entered Turkish territory and for 13 years have been hosted on Turkish territory; where is Assad's mind? Oh, if he says "This is not an occupation; if Turkey had not opened the door to them, I would have done to them what I would have done, I would have massacred them, who cares!" then there is nothing to say, by God. One expects this much shamelessness too.

In fact, the language that Assad deserves can never be a language that addresses him as an interlocutor for the solution of any problem. With the occupations of the US, Iran, Russia and France in his country, along with terrorist organizations such as DAESH and the PKK, the leaders of the Arab countries should again reflect on the honor of his describing only Turkey's soldiers as occupiers.

There is a terrorist threat to Turkey from Syria, and because of this threat Turkey of course has the right to be there within the framework of preventive measures. Assad has neither the intention nor the capacity to prevent this threat to Turkey. It was, after all, his father who for years fed the PKK in Syria.

But the more serious reason that Turkey does not voice much today, which obliges Turkey to be in Syria and justifies it through this obligation, is the refugees who have been forced to take refuge in Turkey because of Assad's massacres, or who may be forced to in the future.

The 3.5 million who have now taken refuge in Turkey, and the 5 million inside Syria whose taking refuge in Turkey can be prevented by securing their safety there (8-9 million in total), require Turkey to be present in even more areas inside Syria, and make it just and legitimate in terms of international law too.

Moreover, as we said before, the most important condition for the Syrians in Turkey who are expected to go back if conditions are met is being safe from Assad's tyranny. Turkey has partially provided these conditions in the safe zones it created through three operations. Aleppo, from which the migration originated most intensely, must also be made safe, under UN control. As long as Assad is there, the conditions for the return of at least 1.5 million Aleppans in Turkey will not arise.

There is no sense in being soft toward Assad. Turkey needs to start by demanding that Aleppo, and even Homs and Hama (not necessarily under its own control, it could be the UN), be made safe.

If the so-called homeland-defender nationalists among us who are trying to send the Syrians away have a shred of sincerity, they need to come to their senses and champion this cause.