Turkey summons Swedish envoy over video meeting with Syria’s AANES officials
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Turkey summoned the Swedish envoy to condemn the meeting held between military and administrative officials of the Autonomous Administration and the Swedish Minister for Defense, Peter Hultqvist.
On April 19, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), General Mazloum Abdi, and the deputy co-presidency of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Badran Jia Kurd, held a video conference with the Swedish Minister for Defense, Peter Hultqvist.
Following the meeting, Turkey’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs summoned the Swedish envoy, Staffan Herrstrom, to strongly condemn it and previous meeting held with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ann Linde, Anadolu Agency reported.
The Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs described the Swedish policy as a violation to the international laws, and it seriously damages Turkish-Swedish relations, the agency added.
Turkey also urged Sweden not to support the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Autonomous Administration, according to Anadolu Agency.
During the meeting, Swedish Minister for Defense showed his country’s readiness to support the SDF in fighting ISIS.
On March 29, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ann Linde had an online meeting with the President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Ilham Ahmad.
In the meeting, Linde emphasized that the SDC should be included in the talks on Syria’s future.