TEHRAN Following the tension erupted between Ankara and Damascus, Turkish forces have massed along the borders of Syria. Turkish government has accused Damascus of supporting terrorism and giving shelter to Kurdish guerrillas. Turkey claims that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan has been granted residence permit by Syria. Syria has time and again refuted the accusations. Basically, differences between Turkey and Syria can be traced in their past historical developments as the two countries have been involved in the war of words over different issues such as territorial disputes in Turkey's Hatai Province, sharing waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers and the dissident Kurds. The military cooperation pact signed by Ankara and Tel Aviv in 1996 intensified the differences.

Syria has indicated that it is reluctant to open a new front for the war with Turkey. Liberation of the strategic Golan Heights, which have been occupied by the Zionist forces after the 6-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967 is of vital importance for Syria. This is the reason that Syria has no reason to open a new front for a war with another neighbor.

Undoubtedly, this state of affairs has prompted Syria to announce that it is not willing to be entangled in military confrontation with its neighbor, Turkey, and welcomes any move for defusing the tension. In spite of this, the Turks have portrayed a tough picture of themselves, threatening Syria to military attack. The deployment of over 10,000 Turkish troops in North of Iraq and creating tension along the border of Syria is not only regarded as flagrant aggression against an independent Arab country but it will also implicate the region in an unwanted war.

Turkish provocative acts forced Syria to put its military forces on full alert. Obviously, the provocative measures taken by Turkey is part of a pre-planned plot concocted by its strategic allies: the U.S., the Qods-occupying regime and the NATO. Therefore, the claims made by Ankara against Damascus cannot be counted as prudent argument for launching the war by Turkey against Syria. Turkish militarism in the region is in fact a Zionist-brewed conspiracy and Tel Aviv plays a major role behind the scene despite its denial of having any part.

Representing Israeli regime, Turkey tries to drag Syria into a war of attrition so as to pave the way for Israeli military adventurism against Damascus. The ominous alliance of the U.S., Turkey and Israel plans to take ransom from countries opposed to the process of undue compromise in the region. At this juncture, these three countries make effort to break the 18 months stalemate in the so-called peace process and thus drag Syrians at the negotiating table.

Naturally, in this scenario, Turkey seeks to resolve its own problems. Turkey's self-appointed guardians of secular system want to crush the domestic protests against the government. In spite of this, Ankara's threatening act against Damascus has brought about the whining reaction of the Arab world and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in a telephone contact with his Syrian counterpart ensured Iran's support and solidarity with Damascus. He announced Iran's readiness to help ease the tension between the two countries.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also voiced objection to military threats posed by Turkey against Syria and traveled to Damascus and Ankara for mediation. The Arab League has criticized Ankara move and issued a statement denouncing the deployment of Turkish forces along the borders of Syria. The League of Arab States based in Damascus adopted an identical stand describing the intensification of hostile stands by Turkey against Syria as an attempt to mar right stand of Damascus in respect of the so-called Middle East peace process.

The Arab organization asserts that the threats aim at providing assistance to Israel to continue its occupation of Syrian territory through creating tension in that part of the world. Iraqi government condemned the Turkish aggression on that country and called for implementation of the charter of Arabs' joint defense with regard to Turkey. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has also announced its solidarity with Syria and ensured support for that country.

These reactions indicate that Syria is not alone and that if Turkey wants to ignite the flame of war in the region, it will burnt itself first and foremost. Turkish government officials should know that if they are not the main loser in such a war, they will most certainly not be the victor. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab countries of the region denounce Turkish military provocations against Syria and call on Ankara to display self-restraint and keep away from war-mongering and tension-creation in the region.

This accomplishment is certainly to the benefit of Turkish government and people. In spite of this, efforts should continue for keeping things under control for preventing an outbreak of a war in the region. All Islamic countries in the region, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran as the Chairman of the OIC should not forget its historical mission. They should avail of all their resources to extinguish the flames of sedition brewed by global imperialism in every nook and cranny in the world.