YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The deployment of the Syrian army in Aleppo means a barrier for the progress of Turkey in the territory of Syria, Ruben Safrastyan - Director of the Oriental Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, told in an interview with “Armenpress”, commenting on Aleppo’s liberation, the recent developments in the Middle East.

-Mr. Safrastyan, what impact Aleppo’s liberation can have on the Syrian conflict?

-I think that Aleppo’s liberation can be such an event that can change the pace of developments happening in Syria. Aleppo is strategically important center, and it, in fact, is liberated from Jihadists. This means that Aleppo’s liberation is not only a great victory for the Syrian leadership from the military point of view, but also it is important from moral-psychological perspective. It turn out that the Syrian army manages to completely spread its impact on two major cities Damascus and Aleppo.

Here we must consider another fact as well. The deployment of the Syrian army in Aleppo means a barrier for Turkey to achieve progress in the territory of Syria.

-What importance does Aleppo’s liberation have in terms of security of the Armenian community?

-I think it will enable to restore the Armenian life that existed before this situation.

-When Aleppo’s liberation process started, Federica Mogherini announced that Aleppo’s liberation by the Syrian leadership cannot have significant importance. In other words, this will not solve the problem. What is your opinion on the West’s such reaction?

-It is understandable that the West will try in any way to weaken the significance of this event. I have no doubt on that. However, we must take into account the fact that Aleppo’s liberation means that Assad’s regime, Assad’s governing region is being expanded. This means that he is more strengthening his positions as a figure which will have a very importance role in the period of returning to the peaceful life.

Therefore, as much as the West makes such statements, tries to weaken the significance of this important event, continues the policy that aimed to take Assad out from Syria’s politics, I think Aleppo’s liberation once again showed that the West’s policy was short-term and wrong. It is impossible to imagine Syria’s transition period without Assad.  

Of course, 40% of Syria is under the control of the government, still much time will be needed to liberate Syria from Jihadists. In any case, the important fact is that the two major cities are under the control of the Syrian government.

-Mr. Safrastyan, you speak about the prevention of Turkey’s progress in Syria. Recently, another terror attack occurred in Turkey, and the Kurds claimed responsibility for the attack. Can this be a reason for Erdogan to toughen his policy against Kurds both in Syria and Turkey?

-It is obvious that one of the Turkish goals in Syria is to hinder the Kurdish movement with all means. But I am convinced that the terror attack in Turkey will be first of all used by their leadership to blow the Kurdish organizations in Turkey, even those organizations that are political, public and have nothing to do with such terror attacks. And we see that an even larger wave of repression against Kurds rose in Turkey.

As for Syria, I do not associate Turkey’s policy in Syria with this terror attack. I think Turkey will continue one of its strategic goals which is to put pressure on the Kurdish movement in Syria. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that Turkey’s major goal is to be able at any way to have an impact on the events taking place in Syria’s transition period. It will try to have such an impact on Syria that it will never be restored as a geopolitical unit.

Interview by Anna Gziryan