U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
The U.S. on Tuesday blasted Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime amid a growing military offensive in northwestern Syria's Idlib province.
“Russia, Iran and Assad are demolishing Idlib and asking us to call it peace,” Nikki Haley, the U.S.'s UN envoy said in remarks before the Security Council.
Since the beginning of September, 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.
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 Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The ministry said an agreement in principle, regarding the lists that were proposed by the Syrian regime and opposition, was discussed. Also consultation was held on the formation of a third civil society group.Video: Diplomats from Iran, Russia, Turkey meet UN envoy on SyriaIt added meetings between the Astana guarantor states will continue.Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal represented Turkey during the meetings.De Mistura will meet officials from Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the U.K., and the U.S.On Sept. 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iran's Hassan Rouhani held a trilateral meeting on Syria in the Iranian capital Tehran.In a joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their resolve to continue joint efforts aimed at advancing the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process for reaching a political settlement and reiterated their commitment to help establish and launch the work of the constitutional committee.'Attack on Idlib to sabotage ongoing political process’Turkey's UN envoy demands immediate cease-fire in idlib
Turkey, Russia, Iran, UN discuss Syria
The UN warned Monday at least 30,000 residents in Idlib have been displaced in the first nine days of this month amid a Russian and regime air campaign there.
Haley blamed Russia and the regime for allegedly carrying out more than 100 airstrikes, some of which she said were "ruthless double tap" strikes targeting first responders.
“It is a disgusting tactic of terrorists, not professional soldiers,” she said.
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.Moderate opposition in Syria's Idlib braces for attackThe 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.Let’s stop the civil war in Syria’s Idlib: Turkish FMHe 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. UN voices concern over escalating tension in NW SyriaIran seeks to avert disaster in Syria's Idlib: Iranian senior officialUS 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.
'Attack on Idlib to sabotage ongoing political process’
She alleged Moscow, Tehran and Damascus are not interested in pursuing a political solution to the Syrian crisis, saying “Turkey learned this lesson last week” during trilateral talks in the Iranian capital.
“The United States is long past taking Russia and Iran at their word that they are interested in protecting civilians in Idlib from further violence," she said. "If Assad, Russia, and Iran continue down the path they are on, the consequences will be dire. The world will hold them responsible. And no number of Security Council meetings will ever change that.”
Vasily Nebenzia, Russia's UN ambassador, defended the deteriorating security situation in Idlib, which is an established "de-escalation zone" as part of the trilateral talks.
Turkey's UN envoy demanded an "immediate and complete" cease-fire to halt all military operations in northwestern Syria's Idlib province on Tuesday."We invite the international community to vocally and actively support our efforts to this end," Feridun Sinirlioğlu told the Security Council during a session on the province.The call comes as Russia, Iran and the Assad regime increase military operations in Idlib amid fears of a humanitarian catastrophe there.Moderate opposition in Syria's Idlib braces for attackSince the beginning of September, 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.The UN warned Monday at least 30,000 residents in Idlib have been displaced in the first nine days of this month amid a Russian and regime air campaign there.Sinirlioğlu warned "an all-out military operation would result in a major humanitarian catastrophe. Such an operation would trigger a massive wave of refugees and tremendous security risks for Turkey, the rest of Europe and beyond."Let’s stop the civil war in Syria’s Idlib: Turkish FM"With all our generosity, we have gone to extraordinary lengths to alleviate suffering of the Syrian people, hosting some 3.5 million refugees, more than any other country in the world. But let us face it: we have exceeded long ago the limits of our capacity," he said.Last week, the UN warned an offensive on Idlib would likely lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century.”UN voices concern over escalating tension in NW SyriaIran seeks to avert disaster in Syria's Idlib: Iranian senior official
Turkey's UN envoy demands immediate cease-fire in Idlib
"Sooner or later," Nebenzia said, such areas "were to be replaced first by local truces, and in cases where that did not take place, a counter-terrorist operation.”
“The Astana process is ongoing, and with the help of the process we will have tangible results,” he said, referring to the trilateral process with Iran and Turkey.
Last week, the UN warned an offensive on Idlib would likely lead to the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century”.