Javier Solana believes Turkey holds the key to resolving the Syrian conflict. However it is entangled in a myriad of disputes, that could complicate the peace talks later this month. The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) makes up of the Arab League, China, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the United States, seeing "both allies and adversaries" sitting at the negotiating table. In recent years Iran and Saudi Arabia have been locking horns with one another over Syria and Yemen, which are the venues of a proxy war fought between these two regional powers, exacerbating the Sunni-Shiite divide.

Solana sees Russia and Turkey as more a problem than a solution to ending the conflict in Syria. Relations between Turkey and Russia have deteriorated after Turkey's downing of a Russian military jet on November 24. Putin's ulterior motive in beefing up support for the Assad regime in Syria seems to seek a tradeoff for ending Western sanctions. Russia is "at odds" with Turkey and the Sunni Arabs, who want "Assad out." Turkey's main worry is to let the Syrian Kurds "consolidate control of territory" now or in the post-Assad Syria. So it is neither fighting the Islamic State nor seeking to get rid of Assad. The breakdown of a ceasefire between Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish government complicates the battle on the ground, as the US-led coalition supports the Kurds, the only force on the ground capable of fighting ISIS.

The author sees "a ray of hope: Turkey’s relations with the European Union have lately improved markedly." He says EU leaders' "desperation to resolve the refugee crisis has strengthened its incentive to cooperate with Turkey." Yet many in Europe feel taken advantage of. Turkey receives over $3 billion for tightening its borders and stemming the flow of refugees. Moreover it gets visa restrictions lifted for its citizens travelling across Europe. Ankara has long complained about onerous visa demands from European countries that restrict its citizens from flooding labour markets. Besides Brussels will have to "start negotiations for Turkish accession to the EU," despite poor human rights record.

Thanks to pragmatism of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Cyprus may see a reunification since the Turkish-controlled north broke away in 1974 after a Greek-inspired coup. Perhaps Cyprus would end its veto of Turkey's accession negotiations with the European Union.

It is still too early to say whether Turkey will be able to stop the influx of refugees into Europe. It is true that "defeating ISIS remains a top priority. This will require negotiating with Russia – something that EU members have recognized."

The problem is that Turkey and Russia are not the only key players in the region. They have no influence what so ever on the thousands of fighter groups on the ground. The two regional rivals - Iran and Saudi Arabia need to sort out their sectarian issues. The Syrian Kurds are excluded from the peace talks, while other rebel groups are invited. It explains why the Syrian conflict is so complicated, because it is multi-layered, with far too many actors involved.