"Idlib stumbling block" in the relations between Russia and Turkey

On 5 March within the framework of the "Middle East Meetings" - a joint project of the Russian Middle East Association and the School of International Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and World Policy of the National Research University Higher School of Economics - an open meeting was held on the subject: "Idlib stumbling block" in the relations between Russia and Turkey".

The main speakers of the event were Yashar Niyazbayev, editor-in-chief of the online news publication "MK in Turkey"; Kamran Hasanov, senior lecturer at PFUR, PhD at Salzburg University; Kirill Semenov, columnist at Al Monitor, expert at the Russian International Affairs Council.

Kirill Semenov analyzed the specifics of Idlib's role and place in the Syrian civil war and in Russian-Turkish relations. Kamran Hasanov considered the position of the European Union on the Syrian conflict, in particular, on the current situation in the province of Idlib. Yashar Niyazbayev coverd the issue of the economic cooperation of the parties and their attachment to each other, which, in his mind, keeps Moscow and Ankara from long-term confrontation.

Participants in the event focused on the future of Russian-Turkish relations in their questions to experts. At the end of the meeting, experts and listeners agreed that no direct military confrontation between the two countries is expected in Syria, partly because of the hesitant position of NATO and the EU, which are not ready to support Turkey, risking a nuclear war with Russia. Although the emotional political tone is often extremely negative, Moscow and Ankara are inclined to resolve the misunderstanding through dialogue.