The Turkish and Syrian ambassadors clashed Thursday at their first U.N. Security Council encounter since Turkey launched a cross-border offensive earlier this month following the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Turkey’s ambassador, Feridun Sinirlioglu, called it a limited counter-terrorism operation “to eliminate the longstanding existential terror threat along our border with Syria” and “to enforce Syria’s territorial integrity and unity.”
Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari told council members his government “condemns in the strongest terms the Turkish aggression, and vehemently rejects attempts by the Turkish regime to justify its actions under the pretext of self-defense or countering terrorism.” […]
Ja’afari accused Turkey of a “flagrant violation” of international law, the U.N. Charter and U.N. resolutions and dismissed its justifications for military action as “lies.” “The aggression led to the occupation of Syria and the death and injury of hundreds of civilians” and massive displacement, he said. […]
Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, called the Russian-Turkish cease-fire agreement “of key significance for stabilization in Syria.”
“We will continue to assist Syria and the Kurds as they seek to build comprehensive dialogue on pressing issues,” he said. Läs artikel
