Russia: Turkey Advanced to Idlib Without Warning us, Turkey: Russia was Informed

* Photo on the right: Mehmet Ali Özcan - Ankara/AA

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Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov has indicated that "they receive information on deployment of the Turkish forces in the Idlib zone and their military is monitoring the situation."

As reported by Sputnik, Minister Lavrov has spoken to the Russia's state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta about the issue.

Underlining that "Turkey has failed to fulfill a couple of key commitments in Idlib", Lavrov has stated the following in brief:

'Turkey advanced without warning'

"We receive information on deployment of the Turkish forces in the Idlib zone, about clashes between them and the Syrian forces. Our military monitors this situation.

"As already announced by the General Staff, the Turkish military advanced to certain sites inside the Idlib de-escalation zone without warning us about these movements, so we were unable to warn the Syrian Army.

"The strikes were conducted, the Turkish side threatens retaliation. This is all very sad. We call for diligent fulfillment of the 2018 and 2019 Sochi agreements on Idlib."

'Turkey didn't fulfill its commitments'

"Unfortunately, at this stage, the Turkish side failed to fulfill a couple of key commitments that were supposed to solve the Idlib problem altogether.

"First, they failed to separate the armed opposition, which collaborates with the Turks and is ready for dialogue with the government, from the terrorists for the Nusra Front which turned into 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham'.

"The second aspect connected with risks and threats originating from the Idlib de-escalation zone, involves moving hundreds of militants, including Nusra and 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham' members, to Libya, for taking part in escalation of fighting in that country."

'We informed Russia about Idlib'

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik has responded to above remarks in his press statement following the Central Executive Committee meeting of his party.

Referring to "the need of fortification in fulfilling the multidirectional duty of preventing migration, fighting against terrorist organizations, protecting the borders and the civilians there", Çelik has stated the following in brief:

"Within this perspective, our new elements were deployed there on February 2, 2020 and I am saying this with emphasis, I am saying this against all the news stating the opposite: The Russian side was informed about this movement of our military elements more than once.

"Whoever says that 'Russia was not informed about it, as Russia did not have this information, the regime carried out this attack', it is a downright lie. Here, we know that they were officially informed twice.

'We will continue retaliating'

"Over 70 regime elements have been neutralized, 54 of them have been completely annihilated. At the first stage, the regime elements that attacked our soldiers were eliminated in this way. The retaliation will continue."

Underscoring that "Turkey has been fulfilling its duty to decrease the conflicts, ease the tension and and protect the de-escalation zone within the frame of Astana and Sochi agreements", Çelik has said, "But, here, the Russia's statement of 'We were not informed' is not correct and Russia's failure to take the regime under control needs to be underlined." (EKN/SD)