Call for Afrin for Merkel before Istanbul summit

Before the Syria summit to be held in Istanbul tomorrow with Merkel, Putin, Macron and Erdogan, Die Linke Co-chair Katja Kipping called on the German Chancellor to “Talk about the invasion in Afrin”. 

Turkish President Erdogan and German Chancellor Merkel had decided to hold a Syria summit in Istanbul during their meeting in Berlin last month. The summit with Erdogan, Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron will convene this Saturday. 

Opposition party Die Linke’s Co-chair Katja Kipping issued calls for Merkel as she spoke to the press before the summit. Kipping said Germany and Europe shouldn’t abandon Kurds in Syria who have been resisting barbaric attacks by ISIS for years and added: “I am expecting the German Chancellor to speak out about Erdogan’s despotism, and pressure him on democracy and human rights.”

“THEY MUST TAKE GUARANTEES FOR KURDS FROM ERDOGAN”

The Die Linke leader said Merkel shouldn’t only be concerned with clearing Idlib of gangs, but she should also voice the situation in Turkish state occupied Afrin. Kipping continued to issue the following call for Merkel:

“There are systemic human rights violations against Kurds in the Turkish state and gang occupied Afrin. The Yazidi and Christian minorities have been completely wiped off from the region. It is very important for Germany to take initiative in this summit for religious freedom, human rights and democracy in Syria in this summit.

It is not enough for Angela Merkel to pressure Turkey about humanitarian aid reaching Idlib, she should also take initiative for active support for the reconstruction process of the neighboring Kurdish cities. Security for the Kurdish region to the north of Syria must urgently be ensures, and the region needs development projects. So Merkel and Macron must take guarantees from Erdogan, their NATO ally, that there won’t be attacks against this region.”