The Syrian Nation Dialogue Congress that was held in the Russian resort town of Sochi last week was swarming with the Assad regime’s intelligence agents, who posed as civil society members and clergy, according to Turkish writer and commentator Bekir Atacan.

The main purpose of the talks that were held on Jan. 29 was to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

NGOs handpicked together with intelligence services

Attending the Sochi talks with the opposition as an “observer,” Atacan spoke to Yeni Şafak daily about what he witnessed during the event, noting that that due to a delay in starting the talks, he had a chance to observe participants and spend time with different groups in the lobby.

“It was made to appear as though there were representatives from every Syrian creed. But in reality, it was nothing like that. Syrian intelligence personnel were sent as businessmen or members of civil society organizations; even the clergy were mostly manufactured and sent to the congress by intelligence officers. The regime brought all groups to Sochi after vetting them.

“Groups made up from approximately 1,200 people were completely handpicked and brought there. Everything was done to be in service of that. The Syrian intelligence is very powerful. And thus to rid Syria of these, not only does Assad have to go, but his entire regime must be toppled as well. Syria’s fate must not be decided by this type of intelligence usurpers,” said Atacan.

Angered by Turkey’s support for the opposition

Atacan pointed that only a small number of opposition representatives attended the congress in Sochi, “They’re American and French-backed. They don’t present serious opposition to the regime. With everyone practically on the same side, the congress proceeded very smoothly. I had the opportunity to spend time with some groups that are affiliated with the regime. They say that ‘Turkey broke our backs. If Turkey did not support the opposition we would wipe them out. Others would be willing to sit down with us, but those backed by Turkey are still standing.’

“And yet again we spoke with Armenian-origin participants about genocide claims, with PYD-affiliated ones of the Afrin operation, and with Baath regime participants of the Hatay issue. We wouldn’t be lying if we said that their animosity towards Turkey was the thing they all had in common. There was a pro-regime middle-aged fraction saying ‘We like the Turks, We’re on your side.’

“And as far as I saw, we can also say that, even though the PYD was not officially there, there were PYD figures in the pro-regime groups,” concluded Atacan.

The PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 40 years.

Turkey captures PYD/PKK training camp in Syria's Afrin Turkish Armed Forces captured a PYD/PKK terrorist area in the west of Syria’s Afrin region, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter on Tuesday.Video footage filmed by Anadolu Agency shows a terrorist camp in the area, which has a shower room, a dormitory, a dining hall and a training parkour.PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists, who had also forcibly taken child recruits, were reportedly being trained in groups of 35, according to local sources in the region who refused to be named for security reasons.In the footage, tunnels and shelters used by the terrorists to shield themselves from airstrikes can be seen.Turkish Armed Forces removed a terrorist flag erected in the area.Top Turkish deputies seek to put US officials on trial for YPG/PYD terror supportTurkey is not occupying Afrin: Opposition partyPentagon weapons delivery route to PKK terror organization revealedTurkey launched Operation Olive Branch late last month to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect to Syria's territorial integrity, it said.The military also said "utmost importance" was being given to not harm any civilian.Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

Airstrike kills five in Idlib, death toll climbs Airstrikes killed at least five people in a village in the Syrian opposition-held region of Idlib on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.It said the death toll from the airstrikes in the village of Tarmala, some 40 km (25 miles) south of Idlib city, was expected to rise.Syrian government forces backed by allied militia and the Russian air force, are waging an offensive in southern areas of Idlib province, the largest chunk of territory still held by the opposition battling President Bashar al-Assad.The Observatory also said the death toll from airstrikes in Idlib city on Sunday had risen to 11, with more dead pulled from the rubble of destroyed buildings. Video: Idlib wrecked and ravaged by Assad, Russian airstrikes