Moscow has proposed to Ankara the activation of the 1988 “Adana Pact” to allow the Turkish Army to infiltrate 5 kilometers deep into northern Syria as an alternative to a plan reached between Turkey and the US on setting up a 32 kilometer safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border.
The Adana agreement, which was originally designed to help restore bilateral relations between Ankara and Damascus, avoided a war after Ankara hinted it would launch an offensive following the deployment of its forces along the Syrian border.
Under the pact, Damascus worked actively to resolve Turkey's concerns regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara.
The Syrian regime had agreed that it would not allow the PKK to operate on its soil.
According to Western diplomats, Moscow plans to activate the Pact in order to push Ankara and Damascus to offer 10 concessions. “Turkey would be offered the right to pursue the PKK five kilometers deep in the north of Syria,” according to the new proposal.
Also, Damascus would abandon any requests related to the Sanjak of Alexandretta, incorporated into Turkey in 1939 and later renamed the province of Hatay. Under the proposal, Syria would also consider the PKK a terrorist organization.
In return, Ankara would admit the legitimacy of the Syrian government and both sides would reopen their embassies.
The two countries would also establish a joint committee and activate a hotline between their security apparatuses.
They should also appoint a security liaison officer at each embassy.
“The Syrian forces might deploy along the Turkish borders under the guarantee of the Russian police,” the Pact noted.
