According to the French head of state and the German Chancellor, the Turkish operation “risks creating an unsustainable humanitarian situation and helping Daesh to re-emerge”.
Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel called together on Sunday 13 October 2019 for Turkey to cease its operation against Kurdish forces in Syria, which “risks creating an unsustainable humanitarian situation and helping Daesh to re-emerge”.
“We exchanged, which with the (American) President Trump who together with the President (Turkish) Erdogan and we have passed the clear message of our common will that this offensive ceases,” added the French president, before a dinner of the two leaders Europeans at the Elysee.
Restricted Defense Council convened
“Our conviction is that this offensive is taking the risk, on the one hand, and we are already seeing on the ground, creating unsustainable humanitarian situations and, on the other hand, helping Daesh to re-emerge in the region” added Macron, who convened Sunday night a small defence council on Syria.
This Defense Council will bring together Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, the Ministers of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Armies and the Interior, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Admiral Rogel.
EN DIRECT | Déclaration à la presse avec Angela Merkel, Chancelière fédérale d’Allemagne. https://t.co/IOBdvwDdim
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 13, 2019
“Europe can not afford the luxury of vain quarrels”
“I spoke with President Erdogan for an hour, we must take into account the interests and security of Turkey. But we also think that we must put an end to this Turkish invasion because there are humanitarian reasons and we can not accept this situation against the Kurds, “added Angela Merkel.
“Faced with this situation, we will remain very coordinated, as we have been to signify to the Turks the end of all our arms sales, but also on the initiatives to be taken in the coming hours and days,” he concluded. the French president.
He also called on Europeans to unite in “this difficult and sometimes disturbing European and international moment”.
“We can not afford vision, blindness, or weakness,” he added.
“Europe can not afford the luxury of vain quarrels, small arguments or add internal crises to the tensions of the world that already affect us.”
On the fifth day of their attack, Turkish forces and their local allies advanced deep into Syria on Sunday, appearing to complete the first phase of their offensive against Kurdish forces, released by Washington that announced the withdrawal of nearly 1000 soldiers from northern Syria.
Kurdish authorities have announced the escape of nearly 800 ISIS jihadist relatives from an IDP camp.
