European Union leaders on Friday reiterated their call for Turkey to end Operation Spring of Peace against Kurdish forces in northern Syria and withdraw its troops, after Ankara announced a 120-hour suspension of its military operation.
"The European Council took note of the Turkish-American declaration tonight to suspend all military operations," the 28 European leaders said in a statement issued by the EU summit.
"The leaders again urge Turkey to end its military activity, withdraw its forces and respect international humanitarian law," it said.
The statement said that the Turkish military operation threatens European security and the fight against the Islamic State, and promised to continue to track developments related to the process, and to address the "serious migrant crisis."
European leaders said the summit also endorsed decisions taken by the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday on Turkish oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, noting the EU's cooperation with the southern part of the island of Cyprus.
Following talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence; Ankara on Thursday announced a suspension of its military operation for 120 hours for the withdrawal of Kurdish units from a "safe area" deep 32 km along the border.
On October 9, the Turkish army, with the participation of the Syrian National Army (opposition), launched Operation Spring of Peace in the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to expel the YPG and establish a “safe area” for Syrian refugees to return to their country, according to the report. To Ankara.