Turkey Sends Delegation for Reform to Syria

On Thursday, Turkey sent a high-level delegation of government experts to advise the Syrian regime on how to implement rapid reforms.  According to Selim Yenel, deputy undersecretary for the Americas at Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision to send the team was agreed to in advance.  Marc Champion of the Wall Street Journal, writes that the sending of the delegation is a sign of Turkey’s concern that “rising violence could trigger instability across the region and unravel Turkish commercial and foreign-policy gains.”  Turkish leaders have repeatedly called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to exercise restraint and pursue reforms.  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Wednesday, “We hope the process of democratization will be rapidly pursued. Our representatives will present [President Assad] some of our preparations” which include a “road map” for changes to Syria’s public and economic administration in line with protesters’ demands.