Turkey: No need for UNSC decision regarding buffer zone with Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive strategy in order to solve the Syrian crisis.

Cavusoglu noted that there is no need for a UN Security Council decision regarding this, adding that his country’s position regarding a buffer zone with Syria is similar to that of the United States.

In a meeting with local Turkish TV channels, the minister stressed that it is necessary that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad quit in order to reach an end to the Syrian crisis.

“There is not difference between our views and that of the US in this regard,” he said. “President [Barack] Obama stressed more than once the deposition of Bashar Al-Assad.”

Cavusoglu noted that France supports setting up a buffer zone with Syria and that “is an urgent need from a humanitarian, strategic and military point of view”.

The minister added that aerial attacks by the US-led coalition against Islamic State (ISIS) positions are not enough and that has been Turkey’s position since before the formation of the alliance, noting that his country is looking into training the Syrian opposition.