Turkey, Saudi Arabia want Syria conflict to continue: Commentator

James Petras, a Middle East expert from New York, was interviewed by Press TV on the stance of Turkey and Saudi Arabia about the ceasefire in Syria.

A rough transcription of the interview follows.

Press TV: Why would Turkey and Saudi Arabia want to undermine the ceasefire that’s going on right now?

Petras: I think they are basically involved in a war against Syria. They are attempting to undermine the Kurdish peoples that have worked an agreement or understanding with the Syrian government. I think the Turkish government is totally committed to war, especially against the Kurds in Turkey as well as in Syria. I think the biggest problem right now is that the Saudis are engaged in a war in Yemen and they have no alternative as to a peace negotiation. That is the problem.

They look toward a war with Syria and they do not look toward any kind of accommodation and that is because Syria, if it runs a free election, will clearly be the victim. It will be in a position to accept a government which will be elected based on democracy and will have independence that the Turkish government will not be able to impose in the area. And I think this is a crucial issue to Turkey. War is peace for Saudi Arabia. The question is can they perpetuate warfare against the Syrian government. And that is not a solution for the Syrians and for the people of the region.

Press TV: We know that the Kurds in northern Syria are supported by the United States. How much of a wedge do you think this will create if it hasn’t already even though there have been reports to that effect between now Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States on the Kurdish issue?

Petras: On the Kurdish issue, it’s a bit confusing especially in Washington, which… has been supporting the Kurds against the extremists, against the ISIS (Daesh) at the same time they support the Turkish government attacking the Kurds. And so Washington is playing a duplicitous role here. On one at the same time it is supporting Turkish terrorism, and at the same time it is attacking the Kurds.

So it’s a very complex and confused picture in the case of Washington not being able to clear the decks and tell the Turkish government that they have to cease and desist from their aggression against the Kurds in Syria. That is an issue that the Syrians will work out with the Kurds. And Washington has to take a part and I think that President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have to recognize that Washington cannot continue to follow the Turkish lead.

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