No UN Security Council resolution on Turkey's shelling of YPG targets in N. Syria
The Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations Halit Çevik said late Tuesday that there was no resolution over Turkey's shelling of YPG targets in Syria.The Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations, Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño on Tuesday expressed his views following a closed-door UN Security Council meeting over the Turkish shelling of YPG targets in Syria, which was published by media outlets as a resolution, despite the fact that a resolution was not passed during the meeting. Later on, Carreno walked back a statement he earlier made on behalf of the Security Council, admitting his remarks on Turkey did not reflect a consensus view by the council.Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno, who holds the council's February presidency, said there was no official press element agreed to by the group that expressed concern about Turkey's shelling of targets in northern Syria.Earlier Tuesday, following closed-door discussions on the cross-border shelling, he told reporters that all 15 members of the council voiced concern about the issue and called on Turkey to abide by international law.The meeting, which followed consultations on Yemen, had been requested by Russia, a permanent member of the council."The member [sic] of the Security Council expressed their [sic] concern about the Turkey's attack in the north of Syrian territory," Ramirez had said. "We receive [sic] ... a letter from the Syrian government, expresses the concern about this violation, and all member [sic] of the Security Council are agreed to asking for Turkey to comply with the international law".Ramirez's comments were immediately contradicted by some council diplomats, with one diplomat telling Anadolu Agency that the Venezuelan envoy's words did not reflect actual substance of the discussions.Ramirez later held another news conference following a council meeting on Iraq where he was asked whether his earlier remarks were a mistake."We expressed this morning the concern about the situation, but we don't have any product. I have to be clear to everybody, we don't have any product, any press statement, presidential declaration, any resolution about this issue", he said.When asked if all 15 council members expressed concern about Turkey's actions, he said the members "expressed their concern about that situation, about the bombing of humanitarian facilities, about the many issues, very complicated issues, but we don't have any product at the moment, we are waiting, still discussing this issue [sic]".Meanwhile, Britain's UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters that the meeting was an attempt by Russia to change the subject from Syria."I can understand why countries might want to change the subject and focus on Yemen or focus on Turkey. But we really need to be focusing on Syria," Rycroft said prior to the meeting.Turkey on Monday accused Russia of an "obvious war crime" after missile attacks in northern Syria killed scores of people, and warned the YPG it would face the "harshest reaction" if it tried to capture a town near the Turkish border.UN Security Council sources also said that the Turkish shelling of YPG targets were being discussed by member-states, but there was no agreement yet regarding the issue.People's Protection Units (YPG) is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorist organization that is the Syrian affiliate of PKK. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, U.S., EU and many other countries.Even though Ankara repeatedly warned the U.S. and Europe that there cannot be any good or bad terrorists, pointing to the YPG, the U.S. disregarded Erdoğan's last call and designated the YPG as its "partner.""Syrian Kurds are our partners against DAESH," Kirby said, stoking the flames of a rift between Ankara and Washington.
Last Update: February 17, 2016 08:26