NATO Condemns the Idlib Attack, Calls for Ceasefire

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg has said, “We urge an immediate return to the 2018 ceasefire. We call on Syria, Turkey and Russia to back UN efforts for a peaceful solution.”

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NATO Condemns the Idlib Attack, Calls for Ceasefire

* Photo: Dursun Aydemir - Brussels / AA

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held an extraordinary meeting today (February 28) and consulted the situation in Idlib under the Article 4 of the NATO's founding Washington Treaty upon Turkey's request.

The meeting was held in the wake of an airstrike that claimed the lives of 33 soldiers in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib yesterday.

CLICK - NATO to Hold Extraordinary Meeting on Idlib Attack

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the NATO, addressed the reporters after the meeting, which lasted for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Speaking on behalf of the organization, Stoltenberg has indicated that NATO allies have condemned the attack and called for a ceasefire.

The Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty says: "The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened."

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'Allies expressed their condolences'

"Allies condemn the continued indiscriminate air strikes by the Syrian regime and Russia in Idlib province", Stoltenberg has said and underlined that "Today's meeting is a clear sign of solidarity with Turkey."

Stoltenberg has made the following statement after the meeting:

"Under Article 4 of the Treaty, any Ally can request consultations whenever, in the opinion of any of them, their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.

"I spoke to the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu last night about the situation in Syria, and he requested these consultations.

"Allies offer their deepest condolences for the death of Turkish soldiers in last night's bombing near Idlib. Allies condemn the continued indiscriminate air strikes by the Syrian regime and its backer Russia in Idlib province.

"We call on them to stop their offensive.

"To respect international law.

"And to back UN efforts for a peaceful solution.

'This dangerous situation must be de-escalated'

"This dangerous situation must be de-escalated to avoid further worsening of the horrendous humanitarian situation in the region, and to allow urgent humanitarian access for those trapped in Idlib.

"We urge an immediate return to the 2018 ceasefire.

"Today's meeting is a sign of solidarity with Turkey.

"Turkey is the NATO Ally most affected by the terrible conflict in Syria, which has suffered the most terrorist attacks, and which hosts millions of refugees.

"NATO continues to support Turkey with a range of measures, including by augmenting its air defences, which helps Turkey against the threat of missile attacks from Syria.

"I thank Turkey for briefing Allies regularly on the situation in Syria.

"Allies will continue to follow developments on the South-eastern border of NATO very closely."

'We support a peaceful solution led by UN'

To the question of a journalist, "Can we expect a more concrete step from the NATO? There are three million refugees in Turkey", Stoltenberg has indicated that "NATO has already provided political and practical support to Turkey and the allies are looking to make further contributions."

He has also decried the situation in Idlib, saying, "We have seen bombing of civilian targets, we have seen increased humanitarian suffering and hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes."

Concluding his remarks, Stoltenberg has expressed the NATO allies support for a peaceful solution in Idlib and "called on Syria, Turkey and Russia to back United Nations (UN) efforts for a peaceful solution." (AS/SD)