Ankara failing to fulfill de-escalation obligations in Syria's Idlib - Jaafari

Syria's envoy to the United Nations has railed against Turkish AKP government's growing influence in his country's north, calling it an occupation and vowing to expel its troops
Tuesday, 31 July 2018 19:16

Syria's envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, said Tuesday that Ankara was failing to meet its obligations regarding the de-escalation zone in Idlib.

"Turkey does not meet its obligations on de-escalation in Idlib province ... Turkish authorities sent there its heavily-armed forces. And we all witness military actions of Turkey in this region, up to Afrin, which they occupied. And they occupied other settlements," Jaafari told reporters.

Jaafari, who is the head of Syria's delegation to the Astana-format talks said Syria reserves the right to retake Idlib militarily if reconciliation talks fail.

He has railed against Turkish AKP government's growing influence in his country's north, calling it an vowing to expel its troops.  

Jaafari spoke in Sochi, where Russia hosted the 10th round of talks with Iran, Turkey, Syria and representatives of the militant group in Syria.

He stressed that Turkey was the only country of the guarantor states that violated its obligations under the Astana agreements.

"Moreover, Turkey introduced its currency, Turkish lira, in regions that are not controlled by Damascus," Jaafari added.