Their hands affixed to a large red valve symbolizing the launch of the Turk Stream pipeline, the Russian presidents, Vladimir Putin, and Turkish, Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared, Wednesday January 8 in Istanbul, as the new craftsmen of a post-Western Eurasian axis , supposed to shape the geopolitics of the XXIe in the Near East and the Mediterranean.
In his speech, Vladimir Putin insisted on how far Russian-Turkish cooperation goes far beyond the delivery of gas. “Together, Russia and Turkey are capable of solving some of the most complex and ambitious tasks in the world, for the common good”, he stressed, referring to “A unique example of cooperation in a region plagued by escalating tensions”, an allusion to the ongoing crisis between the United States and Iran.
Before the inauguration ceremony, the two presidents had held separate talks on the angry subjects – in this case Syria and Libya. In particular, they called on all parties to act "With restraint and common sense" focusing " diplomacy ", according to the terms of the joint press release published after their interview.
Ambitions fly high. Not content with wanting to calm tensions between Tehran and Washington, Moscow and Ankara called for a cease-fire in Libya, the date and time of which, midnight January 12, were revealed to the press by the ministers. Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov for Russia, Mevlut Cavusoglu for Turkey. Carried away by his momentum, Mr. Cavusoglu gave a kiss on the cheek of Mr. Lavrov, the "niet" gentleman of Russian diplomacy, who, known for his extreme coldness, allowed himself to be done without much enthusiasm.
These friendly exchanges are aimed at proving that the Russian-Turkish relationship is at its best despite the disputes that affect it. In reality, the Turkish leadership is unhappy with Russia's reluctance to expel People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian Kurdish forces it sees as northeastern Syria 'Terrorists'.
Extensive exodus to the Turkish border
Partners in the Astana process, Ankara and Moscow are also not on the same line about the offensive led by Bashar Al-Assad and his Russian ally on Idlib, the last great bastion of the rebellion in the north – west of Syria. Schools, hospitals and markets are targeted primarily by the Russian air force according to a method that was once proven by Putin in Chechnya.
