Plans for a state in the AKP's 'safe zone' - EXCLUSIVE
KENAN KIRKAYA
NEWS DESK (DİHA) - Turkey's plan to form a "safe zone" in Syria to stop the advance of the YPG/YPJ has reached a new level, as Western "humanitarian organizations" seek involvement in the situation.
Turkey's National Security Council has called for a "safe zone" in Syria. The "safe zone" would stop the advance of the YPG/YPJ and maintain the "Arab belt" established by the Ba'ath regime in the area. The proposed zone would include the towns of Jarablus and Azaz.
Now, Western humanitarian organizations operating out of Turkey quietly begun a plan to become involved. The organizations, which aim to fulfill the basic functions of a state, have now begun lobbying plans for the proposed area. Among the minds behind the plan are groups who were involved in preparations for founding a state in South Sudan, which gained its independence in 2011.
ACTED, CARE International and other large humanitarian organizations based in the U.S. and UK are among those who began secretly discussing the safe zone earlier in August. The discussions involved advocating for the need for a "safe zone" on humanitarian grounds.
In memos sent on August 12, members discussed their lobbying as "an opportunity to raise awareness to the impact of the repeated aerial attacks against civilians and civilian structures as well, which we have not been able to do."The discussions indicate that the organizations are working closely with Turkey and see the potential safe zone as an opportunity to operate with more ease in the region.
Some of the activities proposed for the safe zone include opening hospitals for the wounded; camps for fleeing civilians; schools that would provide education programs led by the NGOs; and development programs in the area. NGO also saw the lobbying as an opportunity to seek further funding for their programs and facilitate border crossings for select NGO employees.
In their internal memos, the organizations decided to quickly begin lobbying and to write a joint letter regarding the issue--although notably, they have shown no such humanitarian intentions for those living in the areas under control of the YPG/YPJ. Soon after the groups reached an agreement to write the joint lobbying letter regarding the safe zone, posts appeared on their social media websites emphasizing the humanitarian dimension of events in the region.
One source, who wished to remain anonymous, commented on the memos. "We have all these organizations' secret plans in our hands. They need to immediately come out and say what it is they're after under the cover of humanitarian aid."
Many of the organizations involved in the lobbying group had previously worked in South Sudan, where they were involved in state-building there. Sources say that there is the possibility that these organizations may be involved in the plan for a new "Sunni state" in the area. If they do not see the desired result, the organizations (whose group is headquartered in Jordan) may cut relations with Turkey, the source said.
(cm/nt)
