Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Turkey's Dilemma

UN Observers see Difficult Syria Job

This article from a newspaper in Turkey describes the task that lay before the UN observers. Six days in to the cease-fire, there are still people being killed by Syrian forces. Turkey's shared border with Syria has become a safe-zone for refugees fleeing the regime (Turkey weighs military presence in Syria). Their relationship has not been on the best of terms and Turkey has publicly criticized the Assad regime. If the cease-fire is not upheld, other countries that have interests will have to step in. Unless, sanctions or an alternative resolution is proposed an intervention seems quite possible. With the continuing violence, I don't know if the UN has come up with a plan other than report what is happening on the ground. Turkey's growing number of refugees pose a threat to their own security (Turkey's Dilemma). If the cease-fire falls through, I think there will be a number of countries that will act to defend their interests.


Below is a great interactive timeline of protests in the Arab spring. Syria is to the right and you can scroll through the months dating back to December of 2010.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline

1 comment:

  1. Considering that Turkey is one of the strongest countries within the region, if push comes to shove, Turkey can use its military to project its dominance over the region as a whole. This could be the first step in Turkey securing its interests in the region.

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