TURK-SYRIAN RELATIONSHIPS UNDER THE AK PARTY RULE
AK PARTİ DÖNEMİ TÜRKİYE-SURİYE İLİŞKİLERİ

Author : Selami KÖKÇAM
Number of pages : 291-309

Abstract

This article studies on Turk-Syrian relationships which began to normalize by the end of 1990s within a framework of “AK Party rule. While addressing the normalization and development processes of the two countries' relations, the study focused on the main arguments underlying the rapidly deteriorating relations. Turkey-Syria relations were directly influenced by the dynamism brought by changes in government in both two countries. The active EU policy that the AK Party pursued with its "close to working with the West" attitude, which Bashar al-Assad as well displayed in his country and in Lebanon with his power, has been a clear indication that relations have found a medium from a broad perspective. Besides, democratic sociologic and economic problems that Syria has been accumulated, have been historically sharing a bond with Turkey. After the incidents that started in early 2011, relations between the two countries quickly broke down. Relations have resulted as the way Turkey reapproaches the problems which it has historically bonds with while Syria strenghened the ties with its historical partners. The conclusion of the Syrian civil war in favor of the Assad regime enabled the relations to be carried out through direct negotiations with the Geneva and Astana processes.

Keywords

Syria, Turkey, Assad, Ak Party

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