Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın
A possible attack on Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib will sabotage the ongoing political process and cause a serious crisis of confidence, the Turkish presidential spokesman said on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Kalın’s remarks came after a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the presidential complex.
Since the beginning of this month, at least 30 civilians have been killed in Idlib and Hama -- and dozens injured -- by airstrikes and attacks by the regime and Russian warplanes, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency.
As the world braces for the Assad regime to attack Idlib, Syria’s last opposition stronghold, more than 70,000 fighters remain determined to defend the city.Moderate Syrian opposition groups are the main force now controlling Idlib. And it is these groups that plan to defend the city against a looming attack by the regime and its allies.The moderate opposition, along with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, currently share control of Idlib’s de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Last month, 14 moderate opposition factions unified under a single umbrella group dubbed the National Liberation Front (NLF).Let’s stop the civil war in Syria’s Idlib: Turkish FMThe new group includes factions of the Sham Legion; the Jaysh al-Nasr; the Free Idlib Army; the First Coast Division; the Second Coast Division; the First Division; the Second Army; the Elite Army; the Martyrs of Daraya al-Salam; the Hourya Brigade; Brigade 23; the Syrian Liberation Front; the Jaysh al-Ahrar; and the Suqour al-Sham Brigades.The NLF, which maintains a presence in Idlib and Hama provinces and can field some 70,000 fighters, constitutes the primary force fighting the Assad regime.An Anadolu Agency correspondent based in the region said the Syrian opposition had reinforced its positions -- on all fronts -- in anticipation of an expected regime assault.UN voices concern over escalating tension in NW SyriaApart from the opposition, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, another powerful force in the region, was drawn up from about 25,000 fighters after the Nusra Front was disbanded last year.Recent months have seen the group’s ranks shrink as a several factions operating under its umbrella disbanded.Several thousand of these fighters later formed a new group dubbed “Guardians of the Religion”, which is known to be affiliated with al-Qaeda.Iran seeks to avert disaster in Syria's Idlib: Iranian senior officialSince Sept. 1, at least 30 civilians have been killed in Idlib and Hama -- and dozens injured -- by airstrikes and attacks by regime and Russian warplanes, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency.The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which remains under the control of various armed opposition groups.Last week, the UN warned that such an offensive would likely lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century”.UN Security Council to convene on Idlib, Tehran summit
Moderate opposition in Syria's Idlib braces for attack
The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which remains under the control of various armed opposition groups.
Last week, the UN warned that such an offensive would likely lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century”.
Kalın said Turkey expects all parties to make “constructive” contributions and agree on a political solution on Syria.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Tuesday called on international forces to cooperate in Syria’s Idlib.“Our offer still stands. Let's stop the civil war in Idlib. Let's work together to eliminate terrorist groups," he said during a joint news conference with his Romanian and Polish counterparts in Bucharest, capital of RomaniaUnderscoring the necessity of preventing civilian casualties, he further called on Russia, Iran, the U.S., France and the U.K. as well as all other partners and actors in Syria to work together and find peaceful solution."I call on everybody to raise their voice and also stand against the aggression of regime in Syria and to find a peaceful solution," he added.Damascus, backed by Russia and Iran, has been preparing a major assault to recover Idlib and adjacent areas of northwest Syria from the opposition.About 2.9 million people live in the opposition-held area, which comprises most of Idlib province and adjacent small parts of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces. Around half of them are already displaced from other parts of Syria.UN, Turkey, Iran, Russia to talk on Syrian constitutionTurkey welcomes half of the world’s Syrian refugeesTurkey tells 50,000 FSA fighters to be ready for deployment as tensions rise in IdlibArab media highlights Erdoğan’s efforts for IdlibTurkey aims to stop anticipated airstrikes in Syria's Idlib: FM
Let’s stop the civil war in Syria’s Idlib: Turkish FM
He urged the West including the U.S. to join hands in stopping a possible attack on Idlib.
Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the representatives of guarantor countries -- Turkey, Russia, and Iran – met UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on Sept. 10-11 in Geneva.
“During the meeting, they discussed the formation of a constitutional committee and its codes of practice which constitute an important step in the struggle of finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The UN Assistant Secretary General on Tuesday voiced concern over the growing tension in northwestern Syria."I am deeply worried over the recent escalation of hostilities in northwest Syria, resulting in the new displacement during the past few days of over 30,000 women, children and men and scores of civilian deaths," Panos Moumtzis said in a statement.Moumtzis, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said currently there are some 6.2 million internally displaced people inside Syria."A further escalation of military operations in Idlib and surrounding areas will not only endanger civilian lives in this densely populated area, but will severely impact humanitarian partners’ ability to deliver life-saving assistance," he said.The UN official also condemned the "horrific" attacks in civilian-populated areas and called on all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians."The immediate safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel must also be guaranteed. There must be a peaceful solution and it must be reached now," he said.At least 29 civilians have been killed and dozens injured in airstrikes and attacks by regime forces and Russian warplanes in Idlib and Hama since the beginning of this month, according to White Helmets, a local civil defense agency.The Syrian regime recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in Idlib, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".Let’s stop the civil war in Syria’s Idlib: Turkish FMIran seeks to avert disaster in Syria's Idlib: Iranian senior officialUN Security Council to convene on Idlib, Tehran summitUK extremely concerned over escalating action in IdlibErdoğan urges global community to avert Idlib assaultTurkey wants to maintain cease-fire in Idlib
UN voices concern over escalating tension in NW Syria
Iran shares the United Nations' concern about a potential humanitarian catastrophe in Syria's Idlib province and will seek to avert it, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, special assistant to Iran's foreign minister, told reporters on Tuesday."We are also worried. We are going to work toward that not happening," Ansari said as he arrived in Geneva for U.N. talks about setting up a Syrian consitutional committee.The talks are hosted by U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura and also include senior Russian and Turkish officials. UN Security Council to convene on Idlib, Tehran summitUK extremely concerned over escalating action in IdlibErdoğan urges global community to avert Idlib assaultTurkey wants to maintain cease-fire in Idlib
Iran seeks to avert disaster in Syria's Idlib: Iranian senior official
US move on closing PLO office in Washington
On the U.S. administration’s recent decision to close the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington, Kalın said that any solution, which does not recognize the will of Palestinians, is not plausible.
He said that it is unacceptable for Palestinians to be exposed to isolation or an embargo for any reason.
The U.S. move comes in ostensible retaliation for efforts by the Palestinian leadership to have crimes allegedly committed by Israel prosecuted by The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).
Economy
Speaking about the Turkish economy, Kalın said there was no panic and apparent turbulence will be over soon.
The announcement of Medium Term Program in coming weeks will jot down a critical roadmap for the economy, he added.
The Turkish lira has been losing its value against the U.S. dollar for the past several weeks after the U.S. president doubled tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum.
The Turkish economy grew by 5.2 percent in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period last year, the country's statistical authority announced Monday.
Turkey topped the list among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries and came second among EU members who have so far announced their annual growth performances in the second quarter.