Russia not turning blind eye to Turkey’s operation in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russia’s presidential envoy for Syria, Alexandr Lavrentyev, said on Wednesday that Russia is not going to turn a blind eye to Turkey’s new military operation in northern Syria.
This came after Lavrentyev’s arrival in the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan for talks with Turkey, Iran, the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition.
On June 15 and 16, Nur-Sultan is hosting high-ranking negotiations between the guarantor stats Talks [Russia, Turkey and Iran] of the Astana process on Syria with participation of representatives of the Syrian government and opposition as well as the UN.
“As for possible exchanges [on Turkey’s position] on Finland and Sweden joining NATO in exchange for turning a blind eye to the operation [of Turkey in northern Syria] – there is no such thing,” Lavrentyev stressed.
He stressed, “We are not bargaining. We are not giving up on our allies in the region.”
“The possibility of carrying out a military operation in northern Syria by Turkey would be illogical and irrational, and this would lead to an escalation of tension and a new military confrontation in those areas.”
The potential Turkish military operation against Syria’s north is unwise, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria said earlier on Wednesday.
Lavrentyev also stressed that Moscow no longer considers Geneva a suitable place for talks between Syrians.
He stressed the need to identify a new place for next round of the Syrian Constitutional Committee.
Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister Ayman Sousan, who is head of the government delegation in Astana format, said that Policy and ambitions of the Turkish president in Syria should be curbed.
Turkey’s pretext to launch aggression against Syria’s north is a flagrant violation of international law, and conflicts with Astana process, according to Sousan.
He stressed that the UN has to assume its responsibilities to curb the aggressive policies of the Turkish regime.
Also, he said that the international community has to act in response to these polices that pose a grave threat to security and stability in the region.
The Astana peace process to end the conflict was launched in January 2017 at the initiative of Turkey, Russia and Iran.