Erdoğan to UN Security Council: ‘Damn your resolution in Syria’

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slammed the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) resolution for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, blasting the international community for “inaction” over the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta.

“UNSC, damn your resolution. What is the meaning of a decision that has not been implemented? You are deceiving humanity, you are cheating,” Erdoğan said on March 6, speaking at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group.

An aid convoy began to cross into Syria’s Eastern Ghouta on March 5, bringing the first relief to the besieged enclave since one of the deadliest government assaults of the seven-year war began two weeks ago.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on March 4 to continue a military push into the biggest remaining opposition stronghold near Damascus, saying the offensive did not contradict five-hour ceasefires arranged each day by his main ally Russia.

Erdoğan criticized the situation in Eastern Ghouta, saying “it is not humane.”

“The world is greater than five,” he said, referring to the UNSC’s five permanent members: France, Russia, the U.K, the U.S. and China. He blasted “the world order formed after the Second World War,” stating that the power of five countries over others is “like mocking the whole of humanity.”

As the Turkish military continues its “Operation Olive Branch” in the northwestern province of Afrin in Syria, Erdoğan said Turkey aims to “transform the region to a place with the humane environment from infrastructure to structure, with safety and peace where Syrian brothers and sisters can live.”

“We talk about all this with Westerners. We have spoken to Russia and the U.S.,” he said.

“Terrorist organizations and the forces behind them are not concerned about the prosperity and the future of the Syrian people. That’s why this effort unsettles them,” he added.

Stating that Turkey’s motivation in the Afrin operation is to “clear the terror corridor from Turkey’s border,” Erdoğan said this “terror corridor targets Turkey’s security.”

“The aim of the terror corridor is Turkey’s territorial integrity, its unity, its determination for development and its power. They can all use all the distraction tactics they want. They can use any diplomatic games they want. We see this truth,” he added.