ORSAM REVIEW OFORSAM REVIEW OF REGIONAL AFFAIRS REGIONAL AFFAIRS NO.41, MARCH 2016 No.41, MARCH 2016 DEEPENING SYRIAN CRISIS: WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY SHOULD TURKMEN FOLLOW? Cemil Doğaç İpek Cemil Doğaç İpek presently pursues Turkmen, one of the oldest communities of Syria, his studies as a doctoral student at the Department of International Relations have struggled with the in human attacks of both of Karadeniz Technical University Assad regime and terrorist organizations since up- and as research assistant at the Department of International Relations rising started in Syria in 2011. Syrian Turkmen to- of Atatürk University. He completed day fight on four different fronts in order to protect his undergraduate education at the the lands where they have lived for centuries and Department of International Relations of Gazi University. He received his their identities. It was expected that a new period master’s degree from the Department would start in Syria in 2016 within the framework of International Relations of Gazi University with a dissertation titled of Geneva-Vienna processes. However, the hopes ‘Francophonie: An Ensemble have been shattered for now and Geneva talks are of French Speaking Countries delayed. Turkmen, one of the oldest communities (Frankofoni: Fransızca Konuşan Ülkeler Topluluğu)’. He prepared of Syria, have not been included in the internation- a program of 52 episodes named al preparatory works on the new political process. “Turkey and the Middle East (Türkiye ve Ortadoğu)” for French broadcast In this study, we will discuss the current situation on TRT. International Organizations, of the deepening Syrian crisis and the political and Turkish States and Communities, legal strategy that Syrian Turkmen should follow in Turkey-France Relations are among the field of his studies. the coming future. DEEPENING SYRIAN CRISIS: WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY SHOULD TURKMEN FOLLOW? t was expected that a group. This was a positive de- new period would start velopment, but it is not certain in Syria in 2016 within now whether he will be invited Ithe framework of Geneva- again to the following talks. Vienna processes. However, Turkmen have continued the hopes have been shattered to live in the region since the and Geneva talks are delayed. 7th century. We should first Russia already continued its note that the Turkish inhab- bombardments against civil- itants in Syria do not consti- ians (including hospitals and tute a settled community–Sons bread bakeries opened by the of the Conquerors- as in the UN) and moderate opposition Balkans under the rule of the in Syria on the pretext of the Ottoman Empire. On the fight against ISIS even during contrary, Turkish states and the talks. Therefore, it was not chiefdoms were established possible to see positive results in what is called Syria today in practice. Current solution while Anatolian geography offers started to lose their was not completely Turkified meaning. Thus, every actor and Islamized. Turkmen are directly/indirectly involved dispersed in a large area in in the deepening Syrian crisis Syria. Turkmen are pres- is reconsidering its position ent in Aleppo, Latakia-Idlib and renewing its strategies. (Bayirbucak), Homs, Hama, Unfortunately, Turkmen, one Tartus, Al-Raqqah, Daraa, of the oldest communities of Damascus and Golan. Syrian Syria, have not been included Turkmen today fight on four in the international preparato- different fronts in order to ry works on the new political protect the lands where they process. On 1 February 2016, have lived for centuries and Abdurrahman Mustafa, the their identities. President of Syrian Turkmen Turkmen’s struggle in Syria Assembly went to Geneva started with the uprising in upon the invitation of Riyadh 2011 against the state terror 2 ORSAM REVIEW OF REGIONAL AFFAIRS NO.41, MARCH 2016 of Assad regime. Since 2011, well as their fight against ISIS Assad regime bombed several and this reduces their power. times the Turkmen settlements YPG takes advantage of this on the borders of Lebanon, in situation and forces Turkmen Aleppo, Bayirbucak and dif- civilians to migrate from the ferent regions of Syria. Ten lands it reclaims and kills those thousands of Turkmen lost who reject. Turkmen simul- their lives due to these attacks. taneously try to resist to the According to Turkmen’ state- attacks of Assad regime which ments, thousands of Turkmen is supported by Russia and the are lost or under custody to- militia backed by Hezbollah day. and Iran. Turkmen civilians Turkmen now Turkmen struggle now face a serious massacre espe- struggle against against the attacks of terrorist cially with Russian air bom- the attacks organizations (ISIS and PKK/ bardments. Russia’s armed as- of terrorist YPG) and of Assad regime and saults against Turkmen in the organizations its allies. Even though it is not region are considered within (ISIS and PKK/ reflected in the world opinion, the context of “crimes against YPG) and of Assad Turkmen valiantly fight for a humanity”. regime and its long time in order to protect Turkmen have been living allies. their lands from ISIS terror. in Syria for centuries. There are Sultan Murad Brigades are approximately one and a half in an intense conflict with million Turkmen who speak ISIS militants for a long time Turkish in Syria. The popu- in rural areas of Aleppo un- lation of Turkmen in Syria is der the roof of Free Syrian some three and a half million Army. Furthermore, Turkmen together with Turkmen who Muntasir Billah Brigades are cannot speak Turkish. Both also in a constant fight against Ottoman Imperial archives ISIS and YPG in and around and French Mandate archives Aleppo under the command justify Turkmen’s presence. of Firas Pasha. Turkmen also Turkmen are long exposed to fight on the other fronts as human rights’ violations and 3 DEEPENING SYRIAN CRISIS: WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY SHOULD TURKMEN FOLLOW? massacres as well as disenfran- announced to the world pub- chisement of cultural rights. lic opinion in any way. There World public opinion should should be a contact with the now react to this situation. mechanisms of conventions The ‘internationalization’ of human rights and inter- of Syrian Turkmen problem national nongovernmental could be an important step organizations that are active- in order to attain the goal of ly involved in this field. At attracting world’s attention. this point, Syrian Turkmen World public opinion should should take initiatives in the first be informed that there presence of the concerned in- is a Turkmen community in stitutions of minority with- Syria which part of the Syrian in the organizational struc- people, but also has a separate ture of the European Union. identity. Today Turkmen in Furthermore, the crimes Syria face human rights’ vio- against humanity that Russia lations and massacres as well commits towards Turkmen as disenfranchisement of cul- should be absolutely re- tural rights. This should be ported and presented to the 4 ORSAM REVIEW OF REGIONAL AFFAIRS NO.41, MARCH 2016 world public opinion. Syrian ticle. The 13th article of Treaty Turkmen (together with the of Ankara (1921) which some- diaspora of other Turkish times comes to the agenda communities) can make a touches upon the rights to free democratic protest in front of passage and private property Russian embassies in Western concerning the communities capitals. living on both sides of the At this point, it is better border. Highlands and grass- to view this issue from an in- lands used by the tribes often ternational law perspective. stay on the border. That is why We should review the Treaties they have the right to free pass of Ankara (1921), Lausanne lest to face any problem. This Russia’s armed (1923) and Anglo-French- right is not only entitled to assaults against Turkish Treaty (1939). The Turkmen but also to all no- Turkmen in treaty signed in 1921 is fo- madic and semi-nomadic ele- the region are cused on the determination ments. Such rights are consid- considered within of Turkey-Syria borders and ered as rights to free passage/ the context of different issues of borders and private property on both sides “crimes against railways. Claimed to have en- of the border. humanity”. titled Turkey the right to guar- With the 16th article of the antee Syrian Turkmen, the 7th Treaty of Lausanne, Republic article of Treaty of Ankara is of Turkey indeed waives all about Turks/Turkmen living its private and legal rights to in and around the district of the lands remaining from the İskenderun, Hatay and their empire. After the World War cultural rights. There is no I, minority was the notion specific article that entitles that was underlined the most. Turkey the right to guarantee Minority issue was prioritized Turkmen or Syria within the in both treaties of Lausanne scope of the treaty. Nothing is and Versailles, the important foreseen for Syrian Turkmen peace treaties of that time. In other than those who live in this regard, we should under- Hatay Province in the 7th ar- line that minorities that were 5 DEEPENING SYRIAN CRISIS: WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY SHOULD TURKMEN FOLLOW? defined so at that time were Therefore, it is difficult to say given a place under the chap- that the mentioned legal doc- ter of minorities of mentioned uments affirm Turkey can lay treaties. Then, the status of any claim in terms of Syrian communities remaining from Turkmen. However, French the empire was mostly viewed Mandate cut off Kessab from according to the religious dif- the autonomous region of ferences. Demands were intro- Hatay in 1932 upon the op- duced about the communities position of Armenians. This that then had the status of mi- violated the mandatory law. norities. Otherwise, there was French Mandate was formed no debate about the presence in Syria after the Treaty of of any ethnic group here.