Erdoğan: There is No Need for Conflict with Russia

Source: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Following Syria's attack on Turkey's troops in Idlib, Ankara will keep its military observation posts in Idlib, Syria, along with necessary fortifications, because they play a vital role, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said.

The deadly attack was a very clear violation of the Idlib agreement and so will have consequences for the Damascus government, Erdoğan told reporters en route back to Turkey from an official trip to Ukraine.

But he also said in wake of the attack, there is no need for conflict or contradictions with Russia, and there are serious strategic initiatives taking place.

CLICK - Russia: Turkey Advanced in Idlib Without Warning Us

Erdoğan said Turkey's "anti-terror operations" in northern Syria will not stop and will continue with determination.

"It is not enough to appreciate Turkey, we want the international community to be responsible and we want to see concrete steps," Erdoğan said.

He said that a new civilian massacre and migrant exodus in Idlib cannot be allowed, therefore foreign ministers of Turkey and Russia have held talks.

'Tent cities will not be sufficient'

Erdoğan stressed tent cities will not provide sufficient shelter in the cold weather and so there was a need to build durable brick shelters for the refugees.

He reiterated that the international community had not fulfilled promises made since 2014 to Turkey regarding funds for the refugees.

The EU had pledged a 6-billion Euro aid to improve the living conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey, but only 2.22 billion Euro were disbursed as of this June, according to Ankara.

'US and EU are one nation'

Erdoğan said he conveyed the issue to EU officials but had low expectations of a result due to the reactions. "In these matters, there is no difference between America and the European Union. You know, these are one nation."

Monday's (February 3) attack in Idlib, northwestern Syria, killed seven soldiers and one civilian contractor working with the military. Thirteen other individuals were injured but are in good condition, according to Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar.

In retaliation for the attack, Turkey struck over 50 targets and killed 76 Syrian soldiers, according to Akar. London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) had stated that 13 Syrian soldiers were killed in the attack.

Idlib has been a stronghold of anti-government armed groups since they took over the city in 2015.

It is currently home to some four million civilians, including hundreds of thousands displaced in recent years from throughout the war-weary country.

Turkey and Russia agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Phone call with Putin

Syria's attack on Turkish troops in Idlib has marred joint efforts for peace in the country, Erdoğan told Vladimir Putin, his counterpart from Russia, in a phone call yesterday (February 5).

Erdoğan underlined that Turkey would continue to use its right of self-defense against similar attacks, according to a statement by the Presidency Communications Directorate.

The two presidents also discussed the latest developments in Libya. (EKN/VK)