This refers to the Op-Ed article 鈥淗einous attack will draw Ankara and Moscow closer鈥� by Sinem Cengiz (Dec. 20). The assassination of Russia鈥檚 Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov is deplorable. It is a heinous act and should be handled deftly so relations between Moscow and Ankara do not deteriorate.
What Russia has done in Syria, along with the tyrant Bashar Assad, is barbaric. However, Ankara is in the process of repairing relations with Moscow, so the precious lives of innocents in Syria may be saved. Russia is the main player 鈥� Iran, Hezbollah and Assad are all under its control.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is undoubtedly an able leader, and his handling of recent crises and challenges is very much appreciated. I firmly believe those challenges would have been worse if he was not president. There is Iran鈥檚 heinous plan and ambition to spread sectarianism via its proxies such as Hezbollah, the Houthis and Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi. Iran鈥檚 regional hegemony is a matter of grave concern.
Erdogan鈥檚 towering personality is handling all these threats efficiently. Turkey already hosts some 2.7 million Syrian refugees. A rift was caused between Moscow and Ankara by the downing of a Russian warplane in November 2015, but relations have been repaired. Monday鈥檚 killing of the Russian ambassador should be handled by Ankara judiciously so Moscow understands that Turkey strives for peace and good relations with its neighbors.
Turkey must also see that it may be a plot by opposition parties to defame Ankara and sow discord between Ankara and Moscow, as many do not like good bilateral relations. Turkey should investigate whether Fethullah Gulen had a role in the assassination.
鈥� Anees Lokhande, Jubail