Ankara is still struggling to adjust its Syria policy, indexed to the slogan “Bashar al-Assad must leave now,” to a new course being shaped by the US-Russian dialogue. It was Ankara that had to explain President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remark, “a transition with Assad is possible,” after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu immediately followed up by saying, "We think that having Assad in power will not allow the transition administration [to be] a transitory one. Our opinion has not changed.’’

On Oct. 19, a high-ranking official in Ankara gave an "off the record" briefing to a group of Turkish columnists. He said nine countries, including Turkey, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, have agreed on a formula for a six-month transition under Assad’s leadership.

Since the disclosure was made by a top official, it has to be taken seriously — even though two days later, Davutoglu reiterated that Assad should have no role in Syria's future whatsoever. Commenting on Assad's trip to Russia this week, Davutoglu was widely quoted in the international media as saying he wished Assad had stayed in Russia to give the Syrian people some relief.