Turkey’s main opposition CHP warns against 3rd world war in Syria unrest

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

A man rides his bicycle on a damaged street in Deir el-Zor. REUTERS photo

An intervention in Syria could trigger a third world war, the deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Erdoğan Toprak warned, in line with the opposition’s reluctance to take action over Syria as opposed to the government’s venturesome statements.

“Intervention in Syria has the potential to bring on a third world war,” Toprak reiterated. “For the issue of Syria, the common mind of the whole world must be activated. There will not be a winner of this war,” Toprak said in a written statement on Sept. 1.

“While the essential actors of an intervention in Syria are discussing this historic issue in their parliaments, the AKP has been avoiding this. They have been ignoring the Parliament,” Toprak said, referring to the recent decisions by the U.K. and the U.S. to consult their respective parliaments. The U.K.’s House of Commons defeated Prime Minister David Cameron’s motion on intervention, whereas the U.S. President Barack Obama is getting ready to bring the issue of military action on Syria before the Congress.

“The AKP has been trying to drift the country into war by disregarding the nation’s will. AKP’s main concern is not to re-live the March 1 frustration, and not to cause a division in its party. The AKP has been sacrificing the country’s future for its party’s future,” Toprak said.

While deeming the AKP’s approach toward Syria a “mind eclipse,” Toprak compared it to the U.S. intervention in Iraq in 2003. “Does the AKP intend to create an Iraq out of Syria? While the cost of Iraq is apparent, why is there this grudge and hatred against the Muslim society in Syria?” Toprak stated.