AKP Ally Bahçeli Demands Assad's Withdrawal from Idlib

Source: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

Amid ongoing clashes in Syria's northwestern Idlib and Aleppo provinces, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli has demanded the government forces withdraw behind previously agreed-upon lines.

"The party countries in Idlib should immediately retreat to the locations where they should be, and the cease-fire should immediately be secured," Bahçeli told his party's parliamentary group.

Bahçeli called on Syria's army to pull its forces back from Turkey's observation posts surrounding Idlib by the end of February, repeating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call from earlier in the month.

As the government forces advance in Aleppo and Idlib, they surrounded several of Turkey's military posts that were set up under deals with Iran and Russia.

The MHP and Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) have formed an informal alliance since the 2017 referendum for a presidential system.

"Turkey is not joking. News of more martyrs will be costly for Assad, who will pay the price across all of Syria," Bahçeli remarked.

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

Bahçeli said that meetings in Moscow between delegations of Turkey and Russia for permanent peace and cease-fire were an appropriate and positive step.

CLICK - Turkey, Russia Seek Agreement in Northwestern Syria as Government Forces Advance

"Turkey stands behind its word until the end," he said.

Delegations of Turkey and Russia began talks yesterday (February 17), aiming to address the tense situation in Idlib.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal is leading Turkey's delegation at the closed-door talks held in Russia's Foreign Ministry, while Russia's Presidential Envoy for Syria Sergey Vershinin is heading Moscow's. (AS/VK)