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Belarus' MFA concerned over escalating situation in Syria

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MINSK, 10 October (BelTA) – Belarus is following with great concern the escalation of the situation in north-eastern Syria, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that posted the relevant statement on its website.

“We believe it is crucial for all the parties to act in line with the joint agreements reached as part of the Astana process and avoid actions that could lead to an escalation of the situation in this volatile area,” the ministry said.

The ministry urged for a prompt return to dialogue in order to find political ways to resolve the crisis, while respecting the territorial integrity of Syria which, according to the ministry, is an indispensable factor for the progressive recovery and development of the country.

As has been reported earlier, on 9 October Ankara announced the launch of a new military operation in northern Syria, which began with air strikes against Kurdish positions. The UN Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on the situation in Syria on 10 October. The meeting was requested by France, Germany, the UK, Belgium and Poland. Earlier, all EU countries called on Turkey to stop the operation in Syria. The statement of the EU Council was approved by all 28 member states. The European Union also criticized Turkey's plans to set up a "security zone" in northern Syria to expel Syrian migrants in Turkey. The statement stressed the EU's unchanged position that the conflict in Syria has no military solution and that Turkey's operation complicates the political process under the auspices of the UN to resolve the conflict. It also notes that the EU has consistently supported the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump, in turn, said that the United States does not support the operation in Syria. He stressed that there are no U.S. troops in the area of the operation.

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