Calls for the "March of Light" mobilized many Syrians from the north of the country.

Analysis for novini.bg by Prof. Vladimir Chukov, famous Arabist, university professor and scholar in the field of Middle East politics and Islam.

Syrian opposition media sources describe the activation of those from the northern part of the Arab country who wish to join those sent by several refugee organizations in Turkey to head for Europe.

The big test for them is the possibility of setting foot on Turkish territory, unlike those 3.7 million of their compatriots who, since 2011, are already in the neighboring country.

The reasons for migration are more than clear, namely about 85% of Syrians live below the poverty line, about 80% are unemployed, lack of security, normal social services and mandatory conscription.

Two weeks ago, the American channel CNBS made another ranking for the best place to live in the world.

Vienna was at the top, and the Syrian capital Damascus was at the bottom.

In front of Orient.net, 18-year-old Syrian Munzer Aloush described his odyssey from the city of Deir Ezor to a city in Germany that he did not mention.

The young Syrian talks in detail about the migration schemes followed by his compatriots.

If they are from regime-controlled territory, they usually take boats to cross the Euphrates to the area ruled by the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces.

There are already established networks in which the smugglers interact with the Kurdish local power structures.

Alush also describes the exact places where they transport them, usually in cars or motorcycles, before they fall into the hands of other smugglers operating in the territory of the so-called.

Syrian National Army /SNA/.

A kind of "distribution point" is the city of Ras al-Ain, in Hasakeh province, which has been under Turkish control since 2019.

For the route to Ras Al Ain, applicants for the good life in Europe usually pay about $600.

In this city are the "offices" of numerous smugglers who offer various options for crossing into Turkish territory.

All of them work with SNA representatives or Turkish border guards.

The cheaper way is to jump over the border fence /there is one built there/ with stairs.

The price is 700-800 dollars.

The second way is easier, but more expensive.

It guarantees the transportation in cars or flights of SNA members.

It pays about $1,200.

Even more expensive is the rental of military vehicles that come from Aleppo province.

Obviously, with them, the security for crossing the border is greater.

The price jumps to $2,500.

According to Alush, a kind of "distribution point" of Syrians coming from Syria is the city of Sanlourfa.

From this eighth largest city in Turkey, which is 80 km east of the Euphrates River, the roads to Istanbul-Edirne start.

 What is interesting in this case is that they avoid Idlib, which for the most part is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham /former al-Nusra/.

Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, publicly opposed the aspirations of hundreds of residents of this part of the Syrian countryside to join the "march of light."

According to local media, he is playing the role of a "border guard" for Turkey, wanting to give her evidence that it is necessary to preserve and remain the master of this piece of Syrian land.

Local sources note that he made similar remarks last week during the "graduation" of the first batch of 400 "military academy officers" that he has established with the help of Turkey in October 2021. The graduate is named Abu Omar Saraqib, a prominent Syrian jihadist , killed in 2016, known for his involvement in the battles in Idlib and Aleppo.

Probably, such behavior is an expression of his, and possibly Ankara's, desire for Idlib province to remain in this state, even if there are changes in relations between official Ankara and Damascus.

Last week, Damascus opened a "reconciliation center" in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the regime-controlled southern part of Idlib.

expecting a similar step from Turkey.

This not only did not happen, but the checkpoints between the two parts of Idlib were not opened for the free passage of people.

Official Damascus expects that if this happens, the Syrians will go to the territories controlled by the regime.

However, practice shows that for now there is movement from Idlib, but it is towards Aleppo, and from there to the areas governed by the SNA and the already known migration schemes to Turkey and Europe.

Local observers note that all of al-Jolani's initiatives to provide more "civil liberties" to the residents of Idlib, as well as the more than 14,000 homes built by Turkey in Idlib, are not convincing enough for people to stay in this Syrian province.

Official Damascus expects that if this happens, the Syrians will go to the territories controlled by the regime.

However, practice shows that for now there is movement from Idlib, but it is towards Aleppo, and from there to the areas governed by the SNA and the already known migration schemes to Turkey and Europe.

Local observers note that all of al-Jolani's initiatives to provide more "civil liberties" to the residents of Idlib, as well as the more than 14,000 homes built by Turkey in Idlib, are not convincing enough for people to stay in this Syrian province.

Official Damascus expects that if this happens, the Syrians will go to the territories controlled by the regime.

However, practice shows that for now there is movement from Idlib, but it is towards Aleppo, and from there to the areas governed by the SNA and the already known migration schemes to Turkey and Europe.

Local observers note that all of al-Jolani's initiatives to provide more "civil liberties" to the residents of Idlib, as well as the more than 14,000 homes built by Turkey in Idlib, are not convincing enough for people to stay in this Syrian province.

 It is not clear how relations between Turkey and Syria will develop, but Russian pressure on Ankara for reconciliation is more than obvious.

It is not clear whether the information by the Sputnik agency, one of the mouthpieces of Russian propaganda under European sanctions, that Ankara has asked Syrian opposition leaders to leave Turkish territory is true.

Syrian oppositionist General Ahmed Rahal believes that the data is rather false.

At the same time, they outline Moscow's line of influence on Ankara with the aim of normalizing bilateral relations, but on Damascus' terms.

Today, a Syrian MP noted what they are, namely a complete withdrawal of Turkey from northern Syria and the suspension of support for the SNA.

In such a statement, the power elements of Russia's negotiations are clearly visible, cloning the circumstances of the Ukrainian case with those in Syria.

If Erdogan meets these demands, it means burying the hundreds of billions of dollars he has invested in northern Syria.

Prof. Vladimir Chukov