Macron Says Ceasefire Applies to Afrin, Reuters Reported

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed recent developments in Syria and bilateral relations between France and Turkey in a phone call today (February 26).

Following the meeting, different statements were made from sources of Presidency of France and Presidency of Turkey.

AA: They built consensus on ceasefire

State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the two leaders touching upon ceasefire concerning humanitarian situation passed in the United Nations Security Council, they "built consensus" on the ceasefire. Stating that this progress is satisfactory, they emphasized that the ceasefire must be realized for the humanitarian situation to improve.

Reuters: Ceasefire must be fully respected

Citing sources of Presidency of France, Reuters reported that Turkey's operation into Afrin came to agenda as well during the phone call.

Macron told his Turkish counterpart that a UN call at the weekend for a ceasefire across Syria also applied to Syria's Afrin region, according to the news report.

Macron also told Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call that it was imperative that the cease-fire be fully respected and added that France's monitoring of humanitarian access and chemical weapons is "total and permanent," Macron's office said in a statement.

Macron had said "Turkey's operation shouldn't turn into an invasion"

Concerning the Afrin operation, speaking to Le Figaro on January 30 Macron warned Turkey for Afrin operation not to turn into an invasion. In response, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said, "France's thought is flawed". (PT/TK)