From Ali, Angry Arab's chief correspondent in Turkey:
"How "Beşar Esad" turns into "Beşşar Esed"
Turkish media had written Syrian President's name as "Beşar Esad" before the war in Syria erupted. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was a very close friend of him and we got used to hear his speeches about how he and "his brother Assad" achieved to improve the bileteral relations, boost the trade, provide security and stability in the region.
They even organized joing cabinet meetings.
When the war in Syria erupted in March, Erdogan became very very silent untill the summer of 2011. Foreign Minister Davutoglu went to Syria and met with Assad twice. They delivered the messages of Washington to Syrian president. But Erdogan's "brother" refuse these demands and did not accept to change his stance.
This failure in Turkish policy pissed of Erdogan and he started to lash out Syrian presidet or "his brother" blamed with being a ruthless dictator.
People in Turkey still remembers "those good old days" of the them and sometimes members of the opposition parties asked Erdogan what caused this u-turn.
In that short time turning point, pro-government media started to write Syrian President's name as "Beşşar Esed, or Beşşar Eset" to make people forget about these old good days. Esad was the brother of our PM, but Eset is the enemy of our PM!
Now in Turkey people easily understand your position about Syria with how you write or spell the name of Syrian president. If you say "Beşar Esad" it means you are pro-Assad or at least against the Turkish intervention in Syria.
If you prefer to use "Beşşar Eset" that means, you are ok with the government policy towards Syria or at least supporting FSA.
Funny but all real!"
"How "Beşar Esad" turns into "Beşşar Esed"
Turkish media had written Syrian President's name as "Beşar Esad" before the war in Syria erupted. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was a very close friend of him and we got used to hear his speeches about how he and "his brother Assad" achieved to improve the bileteral relations, boost the trade, provide security and stability in the region.
They even organized joing cabinet meetings.
When the war in Syria erupted in March, Erdogan became very very silent untill the summer of 2011. Foreign Minister Davutoglu went to Syria and met with Assad twice. They delivered the messages of Washington to Syrian president. But Erdogan's "brother" refuse these demands and did not accept to change his stance.
This failure in Turkish policy pissed of Erdogan and he started to lash out Syrian presidet or "his brother" blamed with being a ruthless dictator.
People in Turkey still remembers "those good old days" of the them and sometimes members of the opposition parties asked Erdogan what caused this u-turn.
In that short time turning point, pro-government media started to write Syrian President's name as "Beşşar Esed, or Beşşar Eset" to make people forget about these old good days. Esad was the brother of our PM, but Eset is the enemy of our PM!
Now in Turkey people easily understand your position about Syria with how you write or spell the name of Syrian president. If you say "Beşar Esad" it means you are pro-Assad or at least against the Turkish intervention in Syria.
If you prefer to use "Beşşar Eset" that means, you are ok with the government policy towards Syria or at least supporting FSA.
Funny but all real!"