Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan categorically dismissed an American proposal to intervene for a ceasefire in northern Syria on Tuesday in statements to the daily Hurriyet . He also said that the entry of the Syrian army into Minbej did not represent a "very negative" development for his country as long as the region is emptied of Syrian Kurdish fighters.
"For me, the regime's entry into Minbej is not a very, very negative development, because it's their territory." Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his refusal of requests from US leaders. "They tell us to declare a ceasefire, we can never declare a ceasefire" until Turkey has driven out the "terrorist organization" from the border, he said. to journalists on the plane bringing him back from Azerbaijan. "They are putting pressure on us to stop the operation.We have a clear goal.We are not concerned about the sanctions," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, six days after Turkey launched its offensive to drive away from its border the Kurds of the militia of the units of protection of the people (YPG).
The concern of Westerners
US Vice President Mike Pence will meet Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday with the stated goal of securing an "immediate ceasefire" in northern Syria. Mike Pence will be accompanied in Turkey by Mike Pompeo, chief of the American diplomacy, Robert O'Brien, adviser to the national security, and James Jeffrey, American emissary for Syria, specified the White House. The Vice President "will reaffirm Mr. Trump's commitment to maintain punitive economic sanctions against Turkey until a solution is found," said the US executive.
"We are calling for a ceasefire," said Donald Trump, who on Monday called Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end his military offensive in Syria. The forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime began to unfold on Tuesday in parts of northern Syria that were beyond their control, thanks to an agreement with the Kurdish authorities to contain the Turkish offensive. Although regarded as "terrorists" by Ankara, the Kurdish militias of the People's Protection Units (YPG) are allies of the West in the fight against ISIS jihadists, hence the international outcry sparked by the Turkish offensive.