UK: Civil society group urges no-fly zone over Idlib

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The international community should take measures to protect civilians and immediately establish a no-fly zone over Syria’s Idlib, the British-Turkish Association said Thursday.

At a vigil held outside the Turkish Embassy in London in solidarity with Syrian refugees, the group said it supported "Turkey's actions in Idlib to defend the persecuted people of Syria from dictator [Bashar al-] Assad".

It noted that Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees in the world and recent escalation in Idlib has sent a fresh wave of migrants toward its borders.

The association, in a statement, said the EU was not keeping its part of the 2016 refugee deal it made with Turkey.

“Despite Turkey’s repeated warnings and call for help to manage the refugee influx flowing to its borders, European countries remain indifferent and uncooperative.

“The U.K. and the EU should take every step not to impede the path of those wishing to cross into Europe from political as well as humanitarian grounds."

Calling Assad "the butcher of Syria", the statement, reiterated the need to collectively work to prevent tragedies that cause mass displacements.

Their statement came on the day Russian and Turkish leaders are meeting to discuss recent developments in Syria.

The group was also received by Turkey's London Ambassador Umit Yalcin following the statement.

Syria's Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone laid out in a deal between Turkey and Russia in late 2018. The Syrian regime and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the zone.

Besides civilian casualties and influx of asylum-seekers along the Turkey borders, the breach recently led to the martyrdom of 34 Turkish soldiers.

Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, more than any country in the world, says it cannot absorb another wave of migration and has responded by opening its border to Europe for asylum-seekers, sending the EU into panic mode.

Turkey has also launched Operation Spring Shield to protect civilians in Idlib.