The European Parliament today condemned the Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria and called on Ankara to withdraw all its armed forces from that country.
In the resolution, the Parliament assessed that the military intervention represents a "serious violation of international law", and this can threaten stability and security in the region".
Members of the European Parliament rejected the formation of a "so-called security zone" and expressed solidarity with the Kurdish people. MPs also expressed their fear of the resurgence of the Islamic State.
The parliament asked member states to introduce "a series of targeted sanctions and visa bans" on high-ranking Turkish officials "responsible for human rights violations in the framework of the military intervention in Syria and for the repression of fundamental rights in Turkey."
"MPs consider it unacceptable that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using refugees to blackmail the European Union," the announcement states.
Without condemning NATO
A two-day ministerial meeting of NATO countries begins in Brussels today, and it will be the first meeting since the start of the Turkish military offensive in Syria, but the Alliance has no intention of condemning that intervention because Turkey is its strategic partner.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg refuses to condemn the Turkish intervention, saying that Ankara is concerned about its security, however, he acknowledged that there are tensions within the Alliance on the issue.
"Disagreements between allies create problems. That's why we need an honest and open conversation, which will be made possible at the ministerial meeting, today and tomorrow in Brussels," said Stoltenberg.
The unnamed diplomat said that there was no talk of "any quarrel or sanctioning Ankara" at the meeting.
"We don't want to lose Turkey because it is a strategic ally," said the diplomat.
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