Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkey has conveyed to Russia its condemnation of the recent attack in Syria's Idlib, the Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday.
"After the attack, our institutions [Turkish and Russian] contacted each other. We told them that this is wrong," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, speaking at a joint news conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas.
Çavuşoğlu said the attacks are aimed at "capturing Idlib", which he said, "carries a serious risk" and "would be disastrous from many angles".
Russian warplanes on Tuesday pounded civilian and opposition targets in Idlib.
The Netherlands’ foreign trade and development cooperation minister on Wednesday hailed Turkey’s “generous policy” in protection of Syrians.“Turkey carries out a generous policy in protection of Syrians in the country,” Sigrid Kaag said in a written statement.Kaag added that Turkey contributed largely in reduction of the number of irregular migrants, as well as the drowning cases in the sea.She made her remarks upon a parliamentary question by Dutch lawmakers on the deal between Turkey and the EU in March 2016, which aims to stem the irregular migration flow through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving conditions for over 3 million Syrians in Turkey.Kaag said the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT) provided many Syrian children with education, and ensured livelihood of Syrian families in Turkey.“That Syrians consciously choose to stay in Turkey instead of the EU proves that the condition in Turkey is good for Syrians,” she stated.According to UNCHR figures, the number of Syrians residing in Turkey has risen to 3.5 million in August, which stood at 3.4 million at the beginning of the year, Kaag said.“Apart from this, Turkey takes other migrant groups and vulnerable people under protection, as well,” she said, adding that the number was 2.7 million in 2015 and it rose to 3.7 million in 2018.“According to these figures, we need to continue supporting Turkey through FRIT,” she said.The Netherlands understands Turkey’s fight against irregular migration and its efforts to intensify border security in conflict zones, Kaag stressed.Turkey, US foreign ministers discuss Syria's Idlib and ManbijTop US general warns against major assault on Syria's IdlibTurkey tells US that YPG/PKK must leave SyriaUN sees 'moment of truth' for Syria political processKremlin dismisses Trump warning on Syria's Idlib
Turkey follows generous policy for Syrians: Dutch min.
Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.
The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive to the area, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.
On Tuesday, the UN’s humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are scheduled to meet in Tehran on Friday for a trilateral summit on Syria.
As the Assad regime and Russia shell the last opposition-held stronghold of Syria’s Idlib, humanitarian agencies are worried about internally displaced citizens and refugees flocking to Turkey and Europe.Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, head of the Turkish Red Crescent Kerem Kınık emphasized that if a battle breaks out in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib, hundreds of thousands of civilians would flee to Turkey and Europe, which would spell the start of a “new immigration wave.”On Tuesday, Russian warplanes bombed several areas in the last opposition-held stronghold of Idlib, raising worries of a major assault by the Assad regime forces and its allies.Stressing the importance of the international community’s need to gain the trust of Syrian civilians, he said: “The immigration issue is not a threat to Turkey alone, it can turn into an immigration wave toward Europe. This issue must be resolved at the [diplomacy] table. However, we have taken every precaution both in Turkey and Syria.”The Turkish Red Crescent has been providing humanitarian aid to Syrians since March 15, 2011.'White Helmets saved 115,000 lives in Syria' Migration issue must be solved by diplomacyStating that seven million civilians were internally displaced in Syria, “2.5 million of these people are in Idlib. A wave of fear could mobilize them. We witnessed this in Ghouta. It is impossible to govern this many people. This problem must be solved at the table.” “Civilians in Idlib trust Turkey, not Russia or Iran,” he concluded.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.New refugee camps to be establishedThe Turkish Red Crescent is continuing to take measures against a possible new migration wave from Syria’s Idlib and to manage the process efficiently they will implement the “help on the ground” strategy.“We will increase the capacity of the designated refugee camps in the event of a new migration wave in the areas within the scope of the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations. We will establish new camps if needed,” Kınık said.He added that the organization has been supporting Syrians accommodated in 40 separate camps with 30,000 tents.“We continue to dispatch tents and provide humanitarian relief. Mobile health vehicles will be added to our regular services in the near future. These healthcare vehicles will be used in the case of a possible emergency. Aid for the disabled, orphans, elders and widows will be increased. We will reach our goal by helping as many people as possible, Kınık said.Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million others were displaced, according to UN officials.Assad regime shells Syria's IdlibRussia says in contact with Turkey regarding northern SyriaSyrian opposition head calls on world to ‘stop the massacre’ in Idlib
Idlib offensive could trigger new wave of migration to Europe, Turkey
Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday that the military situation in the Syrian opposition-held province of Idlib would become clearer after a summit in Tehran on Friday, the TASS news agency reported."I think the situation from a military point of view will become clearer after, among other things, the leaders of the three guarantor states (Russia, Iran, Turkey) hold talks on Friday (September 7)," Sergei Ryabkov told a news conference. Ryabkov said that any Russian military action in Syria tried to minimise civilian casualties and was precisely targeted, the RIA news agency reported.Kremlin says situation in Syria's Idlib Province of heightened concernRussia resumed air strikes in the opposition-held enclave of Idlib province on Tuesday after a hiatus of several weeks, according to a Syrian opposition member and a war monitor."We, as we have said many times before, act precisely, selectively, trying to minimise possible risks to the peaceful population," RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying.Ryabkov added that the situation in Syria cannot be "normalized until the problen in Idlib is solved." US takes advantage of Idlib crisis to increase support for PKK/YPG in SyriaTurkey, Russia hold last working group meeting on SyriaSyrian opposition head calls on world to ‘stop the massacre’ in IdlibAssad regime shells Syria's IdlibErdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’
Russia says summit to help clarify military situation in Syria's Idlib