Syria ceasefire not to hold in long-term: Analyst

Marcus Papadopoulos, publisher and editor with the Politics First in London, was interviewed by Press TV about violations of the truce in Syria by militants.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: It is a case of he said, she said obviously in this case but from the track record that we have of Turkey it has been attacking the YPG for quite a while now, so how likely is it that it is to blame here?

Papadopoulos: The most important thing to say is that the ceasefire is actually holding and despite the violations on the side of the terrorists the ceasefire is still pretty much intact and we should welcome that and we should do everything possible to try and ensure that the ceasefire becomes a permanent ceasefire in those parts of Syria.

However, while it is regrettable it is of no surprise that the terrorists in Syria, for example al-Nusra and elements of the so-called Free Syrian Army, are continuing to receive support from Turkey, they are continuing to receive manpower, they are continuing to receive weapons and they are continuing to receive money.

The peace, the ceasefire, which was brought about ultimately by Russia and the international community – the UN should be grateful to Russia for that - has not been respected by Turkey from day one. Turkey is an exceptionally dangerous country and what we have seen in the last week is continuous Turkish support for terrorists in Syria but also the Turkish military still shelling the Syrian army, which is battling ISIS (Daesh) and it is still shelling the Kurds, the YPG, which is also battling ISIS.

So regrettably if the ceasefire breaks down, it won’t be because of the Syrian armed forces or the Kurds. It would be because of the terrorists and the continuing support they receive from Turkey.

Press TV: And honing in on this Turkish factor, if we may, how important is it to deal with that because certainly any ceasefire that holds within Syrian borders that is all nice but with Turkish involvement as you said nothing is really going to change, is it? 

Papadopoulos: I am sorry to say this, it does not make me happy to have to say this but I do not believe that a ceasefire will hold in the long-term. Why do I say that? Because the West and its regional allies – Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar - are still supporting terrorists in Syria. You know, Turkey is the transit country for Islamist fighters and Jihadists going into Syria.

If the Turkish government, if the dreadful, dreadful Erdogan was to close the Turkish-Syrian border, as I say overnight, then perhaps, just perhaps, there could be an eventual permanent ceasefire in Syria but that is not what is happening.

The Russian government has made it very clear that Turkey is continuing to support the terrorists in Syria, so it is regrettable for me to have to say this but I do believe still that in the long-term the only solution to the Syrian conflict is a military solution because the terrorists in Syria are continuing to receive additional fighters, they are continuing to receive arms, they are continuing to receive intelligence information, logistical assistance and money, and so the only way that this conflict can be brought to an end is by destroying the terrorists on the battlefield and I am sorry to have to say that. I do not like war but we have to be realistic. If the terrorists are continuing to receive outside assistance from, for example, Turkey, then how enough can a ceasefire be permanent?

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk