clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

UN chief welcomes pause to Syria operation

October 18, 2019 at 8:06 am

Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu meets United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres ahead of the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States on 20 September 2019. [Cem Özdel/Anadolu Agency]

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the pause in Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring, the international body said hours after the announcement Thursday, Anadolu reports.

“The Secretary-General welcomes any effort to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians, in line with the UN Charter and international humanitarian law,” the UN said in a statement. “The Secretary-General recognizes that there is still a long way to go for an effective solution to the crisis in Syria.”

Following meetings between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence and their delegations in Ankara, the two sides reached a 13-article agreement on northeast Syria.

Turkey and the US “reaffirmed the relationship as fellow members of NATO”, and “the US side understands Turkey’s security concerns on its southern border,” it said.

The two sides agreed the conditions, particularly in northeast Syria, necessitate closer coordination on the basis of common interests.

With an understanding of “one for all and all for one,” they also remain committed to protecting NATO territories and NATO populations against all threats.

Turkey and the US also reiterated “their pledge to uphold human life, human rights, and the protection of religious and ethnic communities.”

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria on Oct. 9 in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear the region east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union — has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

READ: Kurdish leader claims ‘Trump blessed our agreement with Russia and Syrian regime’