“Now, how to solve the problem of Idlib in Syria is being discussed. - writes Karasu - Syria and Russia are preparing for the operation to remove the mercenaries from Idlib; Turkey opposes this operation; it’s trying to postpone the operation and make the mercenaries ready for war. 

Thus, it aims to have more power of negotiation with Russia and Syria. Undoubtedly, the AKP will definitely put Kurds on the agenda again in the negotiations. Because the most fundamental concern of the AKP government is that the Kurds gain in Syria.

Removing the mercenaries in Aleppo and moving them to Idlib revealed what would happen to Idlib in the future. 

In this respect, Russia either neutralise these mercenaries together with Turkey or Turkey will be facing Russia and Syria”. 

Karasu pointed out in his article that “Turkey does not want to leave Idlib without obtaining an influential position in Syria policy”. 

At the moment though, said Karasu, “leaving Idlib would put Turkey in a weaker position”. In fact, Karasu argued “Turkey is in a weak position with Russia at the moment”.

Clearly Turkey at present is calculating which one would be a better card to play with Russia, in order not to come out of this situation too badly hurt. 

So on the table, said Karasu, there are various proposals, and one involved bargaining with Russia over Kurds. But “they are not proposals Russia could easily accept. - said Karasu - Put in practice it would mean cutting all relations between Kurds and Russia and Syria. This direction in Russia and Syria's policies may lead to the point where they breaks relations with Kurds. Kurds could be used as a blackmail tool against Turkey. This would be very dirty and ugly politics. Eventually, such a dirty policy would hit back at those who have used it. If Russia would do what they did in Afrin in Shehba, this policy might have consequences that they did not expect. If Russia and Syria face Kurds with this kind of approach, they will become the loser side”.

Karasu added: “Of course we are just speculating. As we have stated, it is not easy this time for Russia to enter such a dirty bargain. […] We must also emphasize the fact that Idlib is not the solution to problems in Syria. Throwing the mercenaries out of Idlib does not mean the end of the war in Syria and the settlement of problems in Syria”. 

Kurds, said Karasu, “are the most dynamic and organized power of Syria, will be the determinant in the future of Syria together with the people of North Syria. From this point of view, the political situation in Syria can be determined by the democratic compromises to be made with Kurds and the people of Northern Syria”. 

Karasu ended his remarks by saying: “If Russia and Syria want to act jointly with the Kurds with regard to Idlib, then they must approach the Kurdish. The most accurate and conclusive way to get rid of the mercenaries in Idlib and achieve stability and peace in Syria is to enter democratic compromise with the Kurds and the Northern Syrian Federation”.