Prof. Dr. Christian Zeller, Economic Geography and Global Studies Department of Geography and Geology, University of Salzburg spoke to Yeni Özgür Politika newspaper and pointed out the silence of European governments as the authoritarian Turkish state and its army, supported by jihadi mercenaries called FSA, attack Afrin in Northern Syria.

“The Russian and the US-governments seem to tolerate the Turkish invasion in Syria. The Erdogan-Regime wants to destroy the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. Erdogan promoted a massive nationalist wave in Turkey. He threatens the entire population in Northern Syria”, Zeller said.

Recalling that the Turkish bombings killed already many hundreds of people, Zeller stressed that the population of Afrin- half of it is composed of IDP, finding refuge and protection in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - is fiercely determined to defend itself against any attacks and to support its protection units of YPG and YPJ and the alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

According to Zeller, it is urgent that the European governments, the USA and Russia stop of the authoritarian Erdogan-Regime in Syria. “They have the economic and political power to do this. An international solidarity movement must force them to stop Erdogan.”

Ziller remarked that by the same, Syrian dictator Assad must be forced to stop the terrible bombings of several hundred thousand people in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.

“Thus, it is urgent to build an international solidarity movement with Afrin, the population in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and terrorized population in entire Syria. We must build solidarity meetings, actions and networks in each city in Europe”, Ziller underlined.