Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 16 /Trend, A.Tagiyeva/
Syria, seized by mass rallies since early March, has turned into an arena of struggle for leadership in the region between Iran and Turkey, of whom each in their own estimate the crisis in the country, experts say.
The leadership in the region largely depends on the resolution of the Syrian crisis, and therefore, Iran and Turkey are competing for control over the situation in this country, an analyst on the Middle East Saleh Zaitoon said.
"Iran can not give up its principles in the Syrian issue, and it creates even more tense situation in the country," Zaitoon told Trend by telephone from Amman.
He said such a situation where each side considers the solution to the conflict in different ways could further exacerbate the situation in Syria.
The Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Commission for National Security and Foreign Affairs Alaeddin Boroujerdi reiterated Iran's support for Syria, Reuters reported.
"The interests of the Muslim world are to get mobilized to protect Syria like a center of Palestinian resistance," said Boroujerdi.
According to the expert of the Center for Turkish-Asian Studies (TASAM) Hilmi Ozev, Turkey at the beginning tried to explain to the Iranian authorities that the excessive support to the Assad regime may affect the credibility and position of Tehran, turning the West against it. However, Iran gave preference to support its ally in the region and thus making Turkey against itself in this issue, he said.
"Syria for Iran is a way to Lebanon and the Shiites in the country. Syria is the only country in the region, which supports Iran. To lose such an ally would be a huge loss for Iran," Ozev told by telephone from Istanbul.
As for Turkey, in the Syrian conflict, Ankara is committed to a peaceful settlement, which ultimately implies a change of regime in that country, Ozev said.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on last Wednesday expressed hope that the steps towards reforming Syria will be taken in the next 10-15 days, Reuters reported.
A few days earlier, Erdogan said that his country's "patience comes to an end" because of the events in Syria, and Ankara intends to publicly declare its tough position to the president Assad.
Syrian president's adviser Buseyna Shaaban, in turn, said that Ankara will receive "strong response" if accuses Syria of violence against demonstrators.
Mass protests in Syria began in mid March in Dera'a in the country's south, and then spread to other regions. According to the Syrian human rights defenders, the clashes with the security forces killed over 1,600 people.
According to official data, about 500 soldiers and members of security forces were killed since the events as a result of actions of "armed terrorist elements".