ISTANBUL/MOSCOW
Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib, as part of an agreement with Russia, while Russia said there have been a few shootings in the region. “We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the ceasefire. None occurred since ceasefire entered into force,” the Turkish Defence Ministry quoted Akar as saying. The ceasefire was reached in Moscow on Thursday after talks to contain an escalating conflict. Nearly a million people have been displaced in a three-month Russianbacked offensive by Syrian President Bashar alAssad’s forces in north west Syria. Ankara supports rebel fighters, although it has less sway over jihadists who control large parts of Idlib. Russian news agencies, citing the defense ministry, said there have been three cases of shooting in Idlib in the past 24 hours. It also said there were seven cases of shootings in Latakia and nine in Aleppo. The defense ministry also reported that 860 refugees have returned to Syria from Jordan and Lebanon for the past day. Akar also said Turkey would use its right to selfdefense if there is any attack targeting its forces or bases in the region. The deal called for joint patrols of Turkish and Russian forces around the M4 road in Idlib region starting on March 15. Turkey has started to work on the procedures and principles of the safety corridor around the road, Akar said, adding that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara next week for discussions. Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria’s nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. Meanwhile, EU countries gave a cautious welcome on Friday to a Russian-Turkish cease-fire in Syria but urged warring parties to allow in more humanitarian aid. Foreign ministers from the 27 EU states held talks in Zagreb on the crisis in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, where Ankara is battling Moscow-backed government forces. “For sure I am pleased for the cease-fire, the cease-fire is good news. At least it’s goodwill — let’s see how it works,” Josep Borrell said. Nearly a million civilians have fled their homes due to the Idlib fighting, dubbed by the UN the worst humanitarian emergency since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The ministers called “in the strongest possible terms” for the cease-fire to be implemented to protect civilians and “to enable the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance by the international community.” The EU has announced €60 million ($68 million) in humanitarian assistance for northwest Syria, as part of a €170 million package for those in need across the war-torn country.— Agencies
