Azerbaijan, Baku, May 6 / Trend , U.Sadikhova/
In the rapprochement of relations with Turkey, Syria sees a chance to regain political influence in the Middle East and improve partnerships with the United States, but this does not affect the course of indirect talks of Damascus with Israel, analysts believe.
Syria wants a back door entrance to Europe and U.S. relationship through Turkey, Damascus Institute of Civil Rights human rights activist Khaldoon Aswad wrote to Trend via e-mail.
The military trainings on the Syrian-Turkish borders last week and visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to the neighbor country in mid May was an evidence of approached relations between Damascus and Ankara.
Relations between Syria and Turkey have been strained in late 1990s, when head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan fled to Syria, who was later arrested by Turkish security services.
The disputable status of the border region Khatai, where both sides are claiming their right to this province, still remains unsolved.
The relations between Syria and Turkey are still unstable due to claims of the both sides to Khatai, and use of common water resources, an analyst for Syrian policy Neil Quilliam said to Trend .
Despite this, Syria and Turkey understand the importance of their relations, especially in restoring security in Iraq, as well as in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, observers believed.
For the Syrians improvement in relations with Turkey means restoration of political and diplomatic primacy in the Middle East, lost after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, said Quilliam, British Control Risks leading analyst on Middle East Security and Political Center.
Damascus remains a key suspect in the murder of Hariri who was against of the Syrian interference into Lebanese internal affairs, although the Syrian government denies it.
Quilliam does not exclude that Syria wishes to impress upon the US that it is critical to resolving the broader Arab-Israeli conflict and peace cannot be achieved without Damascus.
"In this sense, Syria wil use its relationship with Turkey as leverage with the [Barack] Obama administration," Quilliam said.
Unlike the former George Bush administration which accused the Syrian authorities of supporting Iraqi terrorist groups, the head of the White House has sent several delegations of congressmen to Damascus to improve relations between the two countries.
However, the Syrian-US relations remain strained due to the strategic partnership of Damascus and Tehran, and Syria's support for the Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah party.
Therefore, it is necessary for the United States to win over Syria to weaken Tehran's influence in the Middle East, experts believe.
According to Turkish Military Expert Bahadir Koch, Syria considers Turkey as a "window to Europe and the U.S.", regarding Ankara's close ties with western countries.
"Syria is again seeking to revive the image and influence in the Arab world, and from this point of view, approaching with the United States is necessary," Koch told Trend in a telephone conversation from Istanbul.
Turkey's choice is nonrandom, he believes, since Ankara has begun to cooperate with Syria, while Arab countries have criticized the close Syrian-Iranian relations, and support for Hamas and Hezbollah.
Quilliam agrees with him and believes that Syrian President Bashar Asad will try to use good relations with the Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyib Erdogan to engage with the Obama administration.
However, besides bilateral relations and solution of regional problems, it is necessary to strengthen partnership of Damascus and Ankara in indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations, where Turkey mediates.
Indirect talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv on return of Golan Heights were suspended due to launch of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in December 2008.
But right-wing government of Israel, headed by party leader Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to start a new round of talks, explaining that Syria has further strengthened ties with Iran and Hezbollah, Israeli media reported.
Observer says it is more beneficial for Turkey to consolidate ties with Syria than with Israel who is not ready to sign truce with Palestinians and Syrians.
Restoration of dialogue is not possible yet because of radical position of Israeli government. Therefore, neither Jewish lobby, nor Israel are able to stop Turkey and Syria's rapprochement, senior analyst on Middle East policy Hosni Mahalli told Trend from telephone from Ankara.
Aswad also said the dialogue is impossible as Israel's right-wing government is looking for excuse to stop the peace talks as it not interested in truce.
Turkey could influence Israel by military cooperation before the military conflict between Israel and Hamas members in Gaza. However, following criticism towards Israeli actions by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in Davos forum Ankara is less likely to become key player in Syria-Israel talks.
"The main point is that whether Israel will accept Turkey [mediation] after crisis in Davos," Koch said. "Due to U.S. pressure, Israel wants to launch talks with Syria. But it not known what role Turkey will have."
Although Turkey maintains a military alliance with Israel, the Israeli incursion into Gaza in December was deeply unpopular and has meant that the government will be less willing to co-ordinate policy, especially with the new Netanyahu-led government, Quilliam said.
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