Turkish FM Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Monday said that Turkey didnt leave innocent civilians to the mercy of the Syrian regime, nor to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the Daesh terror group.
“Unfortunately, the humanitarian burden of the Syria crisis has been upheaved on Turkey’s shoulders. Pledges should be fulfilled,” he added.
In March 2016, the EU and Turkey reached an agreement to stop irregular migration through the Aegean Sea, and improve the conditions of more than 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.
The EU had pledged €6 billion ($7.44 billion) in funding for the refugees, and promised to mobilize the second €3 billion ($3.72 billion) tranche by the end of 2018.
Turkey is home to nearly three million Syrian people according to the Turkey’s Directorate General of Migration Management.
This number accounts for around 45 percent of all Syrian refugees in the region, according to the UN.
The “terror swamp” east of the Euphrates riverremains the "biggest problem" for Syria in the future, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday.The president was referring to the U.S.-backed SDF, which is made up of the YPG, which is dominated by Kurdistan Workers' Party terrorists."Currently the biggest problem for the future of Syria is the terror swamp, expanding under the auspices of some of our allies, east of the Euphrates," Erdoğan said in a news conference ahead of his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.Underscoring that no country has been more affected by the Syrian civil war than Turkey, he said he would draw attention to the humanitarian crises in his speech at the General Assembly.Regarding a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Erdogan said it was currently not on the table but that he would consider it if it was requested by Washington.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations after Washington imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing an American pastor.Erdogan also conveyed his condolences to the people and government of Iran following the armed attack in southwestern Iran, which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60 others."With such incidents, the sensitivities in the region grow," Erdogan added.
PKK ‘terror swamp’ east of Euphrates biggest issue for Syria, Erdoğan says
The largest armed opposition group in Syria, the National Liberation Front (NLF), announced its support to the agreement between Turkey and Russia regarding northwestern Idlib province.In a written statement issued via their social media accounts, the NLF said: "We thank the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his hard efforts and persistent work on preventing this war."Underscoring that the outcome of the Sochi discussions was an "obvious victory for the Turkish diplomacy", the statement further added that the group "will not give up on its goal to overthrow [Bashar al-]Assad regime.""We announce our full cooperation with the Turkish ally in their efforts [...] We will be also aware and cautious for any treachery by the Russians, the [Assad] regime and the Iranians," the statement said.On Monday, Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed in in Russia's coastal city of Sochi to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.Ankara and Moscow signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the stabilization of the situation in Idlib's de-escalation zone.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled to other cities following attacks by Assad regime forces.Last month, the regime announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which is controlled by various armed opposition groups.But, the UN warned that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".
Syrian opposition welcomes Turkey-Russia deal on Idlib
The U.S. has accelerated efforts to gather informants in Syria’s north and east. Ahmad Jaber, a former top ranking Syrian intelligence official, spoke exclusively to Yeni Şafak daily, noting that in the past two years, over 3,000 informants were given duties in al-Hasaka, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Manbij, Kobani and Tel Abyad.Jaber said that the U.S. uses aid organizations and churches to conduct these activities, and that CIA officials who travel to the region as health officials, education volunteers, city planners, religious officials and so forth are accompanied by over 70 Mossad agents.Neutralized on the border“Over 10 Western agents who came to the region with the aim of infiltrating Turkey were killed in the Turkish army’s latest bombardment of the Qandil area and border. They attribute importance to Afrin, Idlib, Jarabulus, al-Bab and Azaz. Agents are placed among civilians who flee from the PKK. Furthermore, individuals and families against the opposition are identified by Assad’s intelligence and included in this network. They conduct these activities under the guise of being ‘volunteers’ and ‘reporters.’ All the attacks carried out by the PKK-U.S. in Idlib, Afrin and the Euphrates Shield area are conducted as a result of the information and logistical support provided by these informants,” Jaber said.Approximately 10,000 agents in Syria, Iraq“The U.S. and Israel are leaders in efforts to gather informants in the region. France, Denmark, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands are also active. Many of the Western foreign fighters brought to the region to allegedly fight against Daesh were actually intelligence members of foreign countries. They formed certain connections on the field and many still have not cut these ties. Among these informants, over 200 are Westerners who have wed local women. Regardless of various periodical changes, there are approximately 10,000 agents in Syria and Iraq,” Jaber added.Churches and aid institutions used as intelligence centersOsama Muslim, a Kobani local who spoke to Yeni Şafak, said PKK controlled areas al-Hasaka, Tel Abyad, Rasool Ayn, Qamishli and Manbij were brimming with foreign agents. Muslim said those employed by Western education institutions and churches in these areas were all intelligence officials. Truckloads of US weapons continue to arm PKK terrorists in SyriaUS bolsters support to PKK terror group in SyriaTurkey to continue anti-terror activities in Syria
Iraq, Syria swarming with approximately 10,000 foreign agents
A trilateral meeting on Syria will be held in New York with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, and Iran, Turkey's foreign minister said Friday.Speaking at a joint news conference in Surinam with his Surinamese counterpart Yldiz Pollack-Beighle, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the decision to hold the tripartite meeting came after "technical" planning in Ankara over the last three days.In wake of Sochi agreement, "cease-fire must be fully established and focus should be on political solution," Çavuşoğlu said.Russia, Turkey agree on borders of Idlib's demilitarized zone, says LavrovTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, stipulated establishment of a 15 to 20-kilometer (9.3-12.4 miles) disarmament zone in Idlib, Syria’s last opposition stronghold.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the pact, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas where they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will do joint patrols in the area to head off renewed fighting.Turkish intelligence prepares arrest warrant list for 400 terrorists in Syria’s IdlibOn the bilateral relations with Suriname, Çavuşoğlu said Ankara is eager to boost friendly relations with Paramaribo in all areas, adding the two countries agreed to develop economic cooperation.He also said a visa-free travel will improve the contact between businesspeople and upgrade bilateral trade volume.Turkey and Surinam agreed to sign a visa-free agreement in the future, Çavuşoğlu added.Germany hails Turkey’s ‘extraordinarily positive role’ in Syria’s IdlibUS bolsters support to PKK terror group in Syria
Turkish, Russian, Iranian FMs to discuss Syria in NY