Heinous attack will draw Ankara and Moscow closer
In a video of the attack, the gunman wore a dark suit, carried a handgun and shouted: “Don’t forget Aleppo. Don’t forget Syria. Whoever has a role in this cruelty will pay for it one by one... Only death will take me from here.”
The heinous attack caused shock in diplomatic corridors. Karlov, who was posted to Ankara in July 2013, was known as an influential ambassador in diplomatic circles. He played a significant role and acted responsibly during the crisis between Ankara and Moscow over Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane in November 2015.
On Friday, I was at an international conference in Ankara entitled “Deepening Turkey-Russia relations,” where Karlov delivered a very strong opening speech on the normalization of bilateral ties since the downing of the jet. “The crisis after our plane was shot down was overcome. We’re back to normal relations,” he said.
I would like to pass my deepest condolences to the family of the late ambassador, may his soul rest in peace. Needless to say, the killing is a terrorist attack, a provocation aimed at harming Turkish-Russian ties at a time when they are entering a positive phase. It also comes as Ankara and Moscow have been collaborating in efforts to evacuate civilians from the ravaged city of Aleppo, and while they are taking important steps regarding Syria’s future.
The attack came 24 hours before a crucial meeting on Syria scheduled in Moscow involving Turkey, Russia and Iran. Despite the attack, Moscow confirmed that the meeting — which is very significant as it brings the sides together while the conflict has entered a new phase — will take place.
Russian and Turkish leaders have sent strong messages to those behind the attack, underlining that bilateral ties will not be adversely affected. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country’s ties with Russia are crucial for the region, and those expecting these ties to be harmed will be disappointed. A similar message came from Moscow, which described the murder as a terrorist attack.
In a perverse way, the attack may even bring Moscow and Ankara closer, as both are determined not to allow it to cast a shadow over relations. Both countries played a vital role in brokering the latest cease-fire allowing civilians to leave Aleppo. They are not going to allow it to collapse.
Recent terrorist attacks in Turkey have aimed to show that the country is unstable. The assassination aims to harm bilateral ties, show that Turkey is no longer safe for foreign diplomats, and isolate it regionally. Aware of these aims, Turkey will further strengthen ties with Russia and regional countries.
• Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes mainly in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East. She can be reached on
Twitter @SinemCngz
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view
