Turko-Syrian Imbroglio

As per my take on the situation: Turkey and Syria never had cordial relations in the past, except during 2005-11, when Erdogan initiated a zero-tension policy with neighbors After the demise of the Ottoman Empire, and in between the two World Wars; when Frances mandate was ending; one of Syrias province Hatay opted for independence, but was annexed by Turkey. Now this is significant in the present scenario. Hatay is along the Turko-Syrian border and hosts Syrian refugees. Hatays preponderant population consists of Alawites (the Syrian ruling class), But the majority of refuge seekers are Sunnis. So this is a potential flash point; in fast Syrians have fired across the border a number of times, with reciprocal Turkish retaliation. Turkey has also accused the Syrians of trying to recruit the local Alawites. A major Turkish/ NATO air-base at Incirik is about 80 miles from the Syrian border; a potential staging area for American strikes against Syria. A couple of other contentious issues between the two countries: South-eastern Anatolia Water Project. It consists of various dams on Euphrates and Tigris rivers; effecting flow of water downstream to Syria. Syrian Support of PKK (Kurdish Workers Party). But currently, the Erdogan government is in talks with PKK (declared a terrorist org by Turkey, US, NATO and EU) to assimilate/ reconcile them. PYD, a PKK extension in Syria is now being

attacked by Jabhat al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda affiliate along the Turko-Syrian border. The PKK now wants Ankara to prevent attacks on the PYD. It would be difficult for Turkish government to tell its public that it is now assisting the PYD, that is, the PKK. But doing nothing could endanger the dialogue with the PKK. The dilemma for Ankara is that it doesnt want the Syrian opposition forces to be weakened either. Recently PKK also hosted a meeting of fellow Kurds from Syria, Iran and Iraq; which could be a move to deliberate on the feasibility of a Greater Kurdistan. This could be a nightmare scenario for regional powers, particularly Turkey. This is one more reason for Turkey to ne in the game to quickly oust Syria; prevent anarchy, which might potentially be conducive for the birth of a Greater Kurdistan. AKPs Support for Islamists. AKP supports both the Muslim Brotherhoods in Syria and Egypt; being ideologically kindred. And of course the brutal reprisals against the Sunnis/ Syrian opposition raised the hackles in Ankara. To conclude, it is the manifestation of the basic tension between the erstwhile Ottoman overlords and their colony. The new element exacerbating the situation is the current Shia-Sunni schism being engineered by the US in the Middle East; to isolate and weaken Iran.