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POLITICS-SYRIE-DIPLOMACY
French president Macron calls for ‘lasting’ Syria ceasefire
PARIS, March 1, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron has
called for Turkey and Russia to implement a lasting ceasefire in Syria’s
Idlib province in conversations with the two countries’ leaders, the Elysee
said.
Moscow-backed Syrian forces have since December led a military offensive
against the final major rebel stronghold, where Ankara supports some rebel
groups.
Macron expressed his “very strong concern about the unfolding humanitarian
crisis” to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian leader Vladimir
Putin, according to a statement released on Saturday.
He also warned of the risk terrorist groups would spread “because of the
military offensive of the Syrian regime and its allies,” adding it undermined
the 2018 Idlib agreement between Russia and Turkey to create a demilitarised
zone in the northwestern province.
The accord has fallen apart as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s forces
moved to recapture the last big region outside his control.
Macron said an “immediate halt to hostilities” is needed and called on
Russia and Turkey to implement a “lasting and verifiable” ceasefire as
outlined in that agreement.
Russia must “end its military offensive in northwest Syria and respect
international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, personnel and
humanitarian access”, he added.
Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called for a summit with
Erdogan and Putin to seek an end to the crisis.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0954 hrs