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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TURKEY IRAN RUSSIA
HEADLINE: At Tehran Summit, Erdogan Looks for Support on Syria Ops
TEASER: Erdogan seeks green light for Syrian military op and to secure Ukrainian grain deal at Tehran meeting with Iranian and Russian presidents.
PUBLISHED AT: 7/18/2022 at 1:15pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Agencies, Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MP
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, AFP, REUTERS
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:18
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: SOME USAGE RESTRICTION NO MAINLAND CHINA))
((INTRO))
[[At the Tehran summit Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to overcome Iranian and Russian objections to Turkey’s military operation in Syria. The meeting also comes as Erdogan seeks to finalize a deal to export trapped Ukrainian grain. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
A Turkish military operation against Kurdish militants in Syria is expected to top President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's agenda when he meets with Iranian and Russian counterparts in Tehran Tuesday.
The Turkish military is building up forces to strike against Syrian Kurdish fighters of the YPG group, which Ankara claims are linked to Kurdish insurgents fighting Turkey.
[[RADIO VERSION: Atilla Yesilada is an analyst with Global Source Partners.]]
((Atilla Yesilada, Global Source Partners MALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
((Mandatory Skype logo))
“Iran has been fairly outspoken in terms of objecting to Turkey's impending Syrian military campaign; perhaps he might go there to sort it out.”
((NARRATOR))
With Turkish forces already controlling a large swathe of Syria along Turkey's border, Tehran is wary of Ankara's expanding influence in a country it considers a close ally.
Erdogan's efforts to overcome Iranian opposition are complicated by his rapprochement efforts with Israel and Saudi Arabia, both rivals of Iran.
Iran and Turkey have a long history of managing rivalries, but analysts see the fact that Erdogan is visiting Tehran as a sign that a deal can be made.
[[RADIO VERSION: Aydin Selcen is a former Turkish diplomat.]]
((Aydin Selcen, Former Diplomat – MALE IN ENGLISH VOA))
“They will not both invite Erdogan to Tehran and then insult him by saying that if you are going to have good relations with Saudis and the Israelis, then you will not (be) welcome here. I don’t think that will be the case.”
((NARRATOR))
With Russian forces controlling Syrian airspace, Erdogan also needs Putin's cooperation.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss efforts to secure a deal to export trapped Ukrainian grain to world markets.
[[RADIO VERSION: Zaur Gasimov is a professor of history at Bonn University.]]
((Zaur Gasimov, Bonn University MALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“These aspects of Ukraine's wheat exports and Syria are very closely interwoven with each other; they always were. And the negotiations will show whether the actors, Turkey and Russia, are able to bargain over the entire geography of their interaction.”
((NARRATOR))
Turkey recently hosted a four-way meeting with Russia, Ukraine, and the United Nations, where officials said they made progress to release grain trapped at Ukrainian ports.
Analysts see Erdogan's meeting with Putin as key to continuing the diplomatic momentum to secure a grain deal. They say the gathering also underlines the Turkish leader's growing diplomatic prowess.
[[RADIO VERSION: Former Turkish diplomat Ayden Selcen.]]
((Aydin Selcen, Former Diplomat – MALE IN ENGLISH VOA))
“Erdogan went to Saudi Arabia and is happy to talk with both Zelenskyy and Putin, so if now can travel to Tehran, and the Israeli president was here, Herzog. So again, then Erdogan will prove, or the narrative will be to show Erdogan's versatility and usefulness in diplomacy in the region.”
((NARRATOR))
Erdogan faces criticism from his Western allies over his close ties with the Iranian and Russian leaders. But analysts say the Turkish president will likely be relying on Tehran to remind the critics of how important those ties are.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul.))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 18, 2022 13:09 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
