Russia warns Turkey against Syria operation: 'Unacceptable'

Speaking to Sputnik after the 22nd Syria meeting held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin's Special Representative Alexander Lavrentyev evaluated the possibility of Turkey conducting a new military operation in Syria. 

Expressing Moscow's firm opposition to such a situation, Lavrentyev stated, "We do not accept this; we have stated this many times. We hope that the Turkish side will refrain from these steps, as such an operation could lead to negative consequences in Syria."

'A POTENTIAL OPERATION WOULD DESTABILIZE THE REGION'

Lavrentyev emphasized that a Turkish operation would not solve the problem but would instead deepen it. "In the current conditions where the crises on the Lebanon-Israel border and in the Gaza Strip remain unresolved, a potential operation could destabilize the region," said Lavrentyev, pointing out that groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has roots in Al-Qaeda and operates in Syria's Idlib region, could take advantage of this situation.

ERDOĞAN HAD SIGNALED A POTENTIAL OPERATION 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the commemoration ceremony at Anıtkabir on November 10, had signaled a new cross-border operation by saying, "Hopefully, in the coming period, we will complete the missing links of the safe zone we have created along our borders."

'WE ARE OPEN TO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE US AND SYRIA'

Lavrentyev stated that Russia is ready to negotiate the Syria issue with the new US administration. Expressing that they are open to resuming contacts with Washington if Donald Trump becomes president again, Lavrentyev said, "If proposals come from the US, the Russian side will be open to this. We are ready to continue contacts with the US; the important thing is whether the proposal will come or not."

The Russian diplomat emphasized that solutions acceptable to both sides can only be reached through negotiations, adding, "We hope that these negotiations will take place."

News Source: 12punto