Separation of powers cherished in France

Let?s go back a week. We were all involved in the operation to relocate the Süleyman Shah Tomb. One exactly the same days, a number of important developments were happening in Syria.

Feb. 23: A French parliamentary delegation went to Syria. The two countries have not had relations since 2012, so this was the first time a French delegation of ?elected deputies? had visited Syria since then. It caused a storm. French President François Hollande was angry. The French Foreign Ministry was expected to issue a harsh statement, but when the statement came later its tone was quiet soft. ?The visiting delegation did not convey any official message,? it said.

Here is the sentence that grasped my attention: ?This delegation traveled in accordance with the principle of the separation of powers.?

This sentence was clear. It was saying: ?Here is a semi-presidential system, but we have the separation of powers. Even if President Hollande is very angry about it, if the parliamentarians want to go to Syria, they will do so.?

Feb. 27: The headquarters of the Hazm movement, which was formed last year, trained in Turkey and became one of the most important ?moderate Syrian opposition groups,? was taken over by al-Nusra, a pro-al-Qaeda movement.

According to serious sources, the Hazm movement joined al-Nusra along with all its weapons.
The meaning of this is that the movement called the ?moderate opposition? now has no chance left in Syria. One portion will join radical Islamist groups; others will eventually join the ranks of Bashar al-Assad. The world understands this. What about Turkey?

However, there are some good signs in Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s visit to Saudi Arabia was useful. It could be...