Eight European UN members back Turkey on Idlib effort

WASHINGTON- Anadolu Agency

Eight European UN Security Council members on Thursday supported Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to halt an offensive in Idlib, northwest Syria, according to Sweden’s UN envoy.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN Olof Skoog said at the organization’s headquarters in New York that a full-scale military operation in Idlib would escalate an already dangerous conflict in a volatile region.

“Idlib is the last remaining de-escalation zone in Syria that the Astana guarantors committed to safeguard.

“We express our support for the urgent diplomatic efforts being made to this end by Turkey and the United Nations,” said Skoog.

Skoog demanded Russia and Iran uphold “cease-fire and de-escalation arrangements they have previously agreed, including protecting civilians as a matter of priority.”

On Sept. 7, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan travelled to Tehran to attend a trilateral meeting on Syria.

During a trilateral summit, Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Hassan Rouhani will discuss joint efforts as part of the Astana process and political efforts for finding a lasting solution to the Syrian conflict.