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'No military solution to Syria crisis'
Retired Turkish Major General Armagan Kuloglu
A senior Turkish security and defense analyst has reiterated that there is no military solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria, Press TV reports.
Retired Major General Armagan Kuloglu told Press TV on Saturday that any military intervention in Syria will be a “big mistake.”
Kuloglu, who is a top analyst in the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, warned that foreign states should avoid meddling in Syria's internal affairs.
He noted that implementation of a regime change scenario will not be easy in Syria, as the Syrian government is supported by Russia and China.
Kuloglu stated that Russia's decision to send a military flotilla to the eastern Mediterranean is a message that Moscow will support Syria.
The analyst also pointed out that popular support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad within his country is another factor that would make it difficult to put pressure on the Syrian government.
“At least half of Syrian people support [President] Assad,” Kuloglu noted.
He said that the crisis in Syria should be solved through acceleration in implementation of reform packages by the Syrian government.
Syria has been experiencing unrest ever since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of Assad's government.
Hundreds of people, including Syrian security forces, have been killed during the unrest.
The Syrian government says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the turmoil and deadly violence, while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.
The Syrian government also says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country and that the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.
