NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Turkey to maintain a sense of Afrin in offensive in Syrian Kurdish region. “All states have right to defend mselves, but procedure must be proportionate and moderate,” said Norwegian. At same time, he expressed general understanding of Government in Ankara. “Turkey is one of NATO countries that suffer most from terrorism,” he said.
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According to Stoltenbergs, Turkey has been teaching Allies this week about military operations in Kurdish controlled region of Afrin. The fact that NATO as a whole is clearly critical of Turkish military offensive is almost impossible. The alliance’s opinions on topical issues must have approval of all Member States, including Turkey.
Previously, federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) had asked military alliance to deal with Turkish offensive in Syria. “The federal government is still very concerned about military conflict in norrn Syria,” Gabriel said. “We are refore working toger with France to stop furr escalation, to allow humanitarian access and to protect civilian population. This is a top priority. ” However, it is also common for ” security interests of Turkey to be observed”.
Turkey has been in Afrin against Kurdish People’s Defence Units (YPG) since Saturday, which it considers to be a terrorist organisation because of its close links with banned Labour Party of Kurdistan (PKK). However, United States, also a NATO member, has so far supported YPG fighters with weapons and special forces in fight against jihadists.
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According to US presidential office, US President Donald Trump asked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to refrain from any action that could lead to a direct conflict with US soldiers. The increasing violence undermines common goals in Syria.
Erdoğan, in turn, demanded Trump, according to Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to withdraw US troops from North Syrian region of Manbidsch. In Manbidsch, unlike in Afrin, US special forces are stationed to support Syrian Kurds against is militia. There is controversy over content of two presidents ‘ phone calls: The White House had portrayed it in such a way that Trump urged Turkey to act deeskalieerend. The Turkish side denied that Trump demanded it.
German tanks against Kurds?
The tone of voice between NATO partners remained sharp: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım once again accused US of supporting terrorists. “The country we call an ally in NATO is under a blanket of terror organizations,” said Yıldırım. This is very painful and humiliating. The US Commissioner for fight against is militia, Brett McGurk, warned that operation in Afrin threatens to “give new life to is on brink of defeat”.
Tensions also intensified between Turkey and Germany. According to words of Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD), executive federal government does not want to make any decisions about delicate arms deliveries of German arms manufacturers for NATO partner because of military offensive. This will only be a possible new government from Union and SPD over retrofitting of leopard-2 tanks desired by Ankara.
After a visit by his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Gabriel had announced three weeks ago that Turkish request for retrofitting tanks would be considered benevolent. But images from conflict area Afrin suggest that Turkish army is also using Leopard 2 battle tanks from German manufacturer Krauss-Maffei in use of YPG. That had brought criticism to federal government.
