The European Parliament have approved a motion calling on Turkish troops to withdraw from Afrin. Before the vote, a joint proposal amending the paragraph on Afrin was also approved with 372 votes in favor.
The European Parliament have approved a motion calling on Turkish troops to withdraw from Afrin. Before the vote, a joint proposal amending the paragraph on Afrin was also approved with 372 votes in favor.
In the joint resolution prepared by political groups in the European Parliament (EP) about the situation in Syria, it was stated that Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch” launched into Afrin has “added a new dimension to the conflict in Syria, raising additional humanitarian concerns,” as well worries over its effect on the “delicate internal balances in Syria”.
The resolution stating that reports indicating civilian casualties in Afrin started to come, demands Turkey’s withdrawal from Afrin and that Turkey focus on defeating the groups designated as terrorist organization by the UN.
“Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch in the Kurdish-controlled province of Afrin has added a new dimension to the conflict in Syria, raising additional humanitarian concerns and worries about the negative impacts on the delicate internal balances in Syria and/or the efforts towards a negotiated solution; stresses that a high number of civilian casualties has already been reported and that hundreds more civilian lives are at risk; whereas the VP/HR, on behalf of the EU, has clearly voiced these concerns, calling on the Turkish Government to stop its offensive and highlighting the need to focus on defeating the UNlisted terrorist organisations”, read the motion.
“EP continues to be seriously worried about the escalating situation in Afrin, including the possible confrontation between Turkish forces and Assad or Russian forces and rising tensions with the United States; calls on the Turkish Government to withdraw its troops and play a constructive role in the Syrian conflict, which is also in Turkey’s national interests; echoes the position of the VP/HR that the opening of new fronts in Syria is not in the interest of Turkey’s security and warns against further deterioration of the country’s humanitarian crisis; demands full respect for humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians, and calls for a ceasefire throughout Syria, therefore including Afrin."
