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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Slams Turkey for Training 'Terrorists'
2012-09-01
[An Nahar] A Syrian deputy foreign minister slammed Turkey on Friday for training and facilitating the passage of "terrorists," according to a television interview given during a summit of non-aligned states in Iran.

Turkey had a particularly "destructive role" in the conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam television.

"Turkey nowadays trains and allows in terrorists, allows in al-Qaeda. Most of the snuffies in Syria come from Turkey," he said.

"This needs to be tackled, because if Turkey does not respond to this issue then Turkey should be put on the list of nations supporting terrorism."

Muqdad said Ankara's policies on Syria ran contrary to its own interests, "and we ask the Turkish government to come to its senses."

He did not elaborate on reports that Syrian officials gave U.N. chief the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
, also in Tehran for the summit, a list of countries -- including Turkey and Gulf Arab nations -- that they consider to be actively meddling in Syria.

But he said: "We warn everyone... the situation is Syria will reflect on them, the situation will endanger the region and threaten stability in the Middle East."
Posted by:Fred

#3  Iraq too. The irony is lost on Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad
Posted by: Frank G   2012-09-01 12:08  

#2  Politically this activity will not help Erdogan

Turkey is playing host to US, British, and Saudi efforts to support the Syrian opposition. Those are political chips that can be cashed-in later.

It's also being done for domestic consumption, partly to deflect from the economy, but also partly old "strong horse gambit". The latter is useful when you're trying trying both to cast yourself, your party and Turkey (in that order) as a leader in the Islamic world, and you and your party as an indomitable force within Turkey.
Posted by: Pappy   2012-09-01 10:22  

#1  The economy and political situation in Turkey stinks. The economic benefits of this activity is what Turkey wants. Politically this activity will not help Erdogan in my opinion.
Posted by: Dale   2012-09-01 07:43  

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