NEW YORK – Russian and the United States have used their veto power at theUnited Nations Security Council to vote down a European statement againstTurkey’s invasion of northern Syria.
The council held a closed meeting on Thursday to discuss Ankara’s militaryincursion, which began on Wednesday despite widespread warnings by worldleaders.
Moscow and Washington had their own reasons to veto the statement by fiveEuropean members — France, Germany, Belgium, Britain and Poland — who hadcalled the meeting to end the bilateral military action.
In a joint statement after the discussions, the European called on Ankara”to cease the unilateral military action,” warning that the offensivethreatens progress.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said his country would only supportUNSC motions that address broader issues, including the presence of foreignforces in Syria.
US Ambassador Kelly Craft, on the other hand, told reporters that as USPresident Donald Trump “has made it clear” Washington does not “in any way”endorse Turkey’s actions.
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Later in the day, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar spoke with hisFrench counterpart Florence Parly, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper andUK Defense Minister Ben Wallace over phone to fill them in on the latestdevelopments.
The UNSC meeting came a day after Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring,its third in a series of cross-border operations in northern Syria.
Tagd: UNSC
