UNSC Meeting on Idlib: Turkey Works with US, will Not Abandon Military Posts
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Turkey said in yesterday's (February 19) United Nations Security Council Meeting (UNSC) that it will not abandon its military posts in and around Idlib in northwestern Syria.
Feridun Sinirlioğlu, the country's UN envoy, stated that Turkey will continue to "respond by all necessary means against any attacks on its troops."
Turkey currently has more than 30 observation posts in and around Idlib province. Twelve of these posts were set up under deals with Russia and Iran.
CLICK - Erdoğan: Military Operation in Syria's Idlib a 'Matter of Time'
As the government forces advance in Idlib and Aleppo provinces since December, Turkey lost 12 soldiers in attacks this month.
"We will not withdraw our forces and we will not abandon our observation posts. It is the regime who should withdraw from its current positions until the end of this month," said Sinirlioğlu.
He said Turkish security forces are in Idlib to stabilize the situation and to preserve the de-escalation area.
"Our military presence and reinforcements are fully in line with the Sochi Memorandum of September 2018.
"The only option out of the biggest humanitarian horror story of the twenty-first century is a lasting cease-fire," he said.
CLICK - Turkey, Russia Seek Agreement in Northwestern Syria as Government Forces Advance
He also said Syrians feel abandoned by the world and are awaiting the international community's help in Idlib.
Tensions in the region escalated after Syrian regime attacks in Idlib martyred 12 Turkish troops, who were in northwestern Syria, just across the Turkish border, as part of an anti-terror and peace mission.
US: We will coordinate with Turkey
Washington's envoy to the UN Kelly Craft said in the meeting that the US will continue to coordinate with Turkey in Idlib.
Craft said Washington "unequivocally" rejects statements by Russian officials "falsely blaming Turkey for the escalation of the violence" in northwest Syria.
"The United States will continue to coordinate with Turkey on diplomatic approaches to restore a cease-fire to the Idlib de-escalation zone and achieve a pullback of Assad regime forces to 2018 Sochi ceasefire," said Craft. "There is no doubt that the Assad regime and Russia, not Turkey, are responsible for orchestrating and executing this military offensive."
In addition, along with with the US the envoys for the UK and Germany called for an end to attacks on Turkey's observation posts in Idlib.
UN Syria Envoy: Turkey and Russia must dot heir parts
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederson demanded Turkey and Russia do their part Wednesday to deescalate the conflict in the region.
"Turkey and Russia, as the sponsors of the Idlib deescalation arrangements, can and must play key role finding a way to deescalate situation now," Pederson told the UN Security Council in a teleconference in Geneva.
The envoy said delegations of the two countries met intensively in Ankara, Munich and Moscow and there had been presidential contacts between them. "But no understanding has yet emerged," he noted.
He reiterated the UN is alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in northwest Syria and the tragic suffering of civilians.
"The potential for further mass displacement and even more catastrophic human suffering is apparent, as an increasing number of people are hemmed into an ever-shrinking space," he added.
In a recent statement, the UN said that 900 thousand people have been displaced due to the government forces' offensive. (EKN/VK)