Politics 11:40 18/10/2019 Region

The latest: US, Turkey agree to ceasefire in northern Syria

Mike Pence, the vice president of the United States, said Washington and Ankara have agreed to a ceasefire in Turkey's assault northeast Syria.

The announcement on Thursday came after talks between Pence and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital, Al Jazeera reported. 

The ceasefire grants the Kurdish-led forces that were Washington's main Syrian ally in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS) five days to withdraw from the so-called "safe-zone" Ankara wants to establish inside Syria.

Here are the latest updates:

UN chief welcomes Syria de-escalation efforts

Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, welcomed efforts to de-escalate hostilities in northeast Syria and protect civilians, according to a spokesman.

In a brief statement, the UN said "the secretary-general recognises that there is still a long way to go for an effective solution to the crisis in Syria".

Kurdish forces willing to abide by ceasefire

Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), told Kurdish media his forces would abide by Ankara's ceasefire agreement.

The extent of the ceasefire stretched 100km along the Syria-Turkey border from the town of Tel Abyad to Ras al-Ain, he told Ronahi TV. "We have not discussed the fate of other areas," he said, referring to other parts of northeastern Syria where Turkey wants to create what it calls a "safe zone".

"We will do whatever we can for the success of the ceasefire agreement," Abdi said, describing it as a "tentative agreement."

UN Security Council presidency happy with ceasefire move

The president of the UN Security Council said that Thursday's ceasefire would be "a great thing if it happens."

South Africa's UN ambassador, Jerry Matjila, this month's president, told reporters that members were waiting for details. "If it does happen, I think it's a step in the good direction," he said.

Trump credits 'tough love' for ceasefire

Donald Trump, the US president, credited his threat of sanctions on Turkey as "tough love" that led Ankara to agree to a five-day cease-fire in its battle with Kurds in northern Syria.

Talking to reporters in Fort Worth, Texas, Trump said the Kurds were happy with the deal.

He also heaped praise on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying: "He's a hell of a leader. He did the right thing. I have great respect for the president."

Turkey confirms suspension of Syria offensive

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, confirmed Ankara agreed to temporarily halt its offensive in northeast Syria to allow Kurdish fighters to withdraw from the region.

"The US side has accepted the necessity of a safe zone to protect Turkey's security interests. And we have reached a full agreement for the Turkish army to control this zone," he told a news conference in Ankara.

"This is not a ceasefire, a ceasefire can only be made only between two legitimate sides," he said, adding that withdrawing Kurdish fighters will have to return their heavy weapons and destroy their fortifications.

US to halt sanctions after Turkey ceasefire deal

Mike Pence said Washington will impose no further sanctions on Turkey once there is a ceasefire in northern Syria.

"With the implementation (of the ceasefire), the US will not impose further sanctions on Turkey," Pence said after talks in Ankara.

Trump will also withdraw existing economic sanctions on Turkey when Kurdish fighters withdraw from the border area and Ankara brings an end to military hostilities. 



Source Panorama.am
Share |

Newsfeed

17:06
Armenian villagers protest over lack of irrigation water
More than a hundred residents of Vardanashen, a village in Armenia’s Armavir Province, on Friday blocked the Yerevan-Margara highway...
16:45
Angelina Jolie accuses Brad Pitt of trying to 'bleed her dry'
It's a breakup that's lasted almost as long as the relationship that preceded it. Dubbed 'the war of the rosés,'...
16:35
Court in Yerevan rejects police lawsuit against oppositionist
The Administrative Court in Yerevan has rejected a lawsuit filed by the police against Karen Vrtanesyan, an expert on military and warfare...
15:59
Exhibition of sculptures dedicated to Charles Aznavour to be held in Yerevan
Yerevan's Two Arcs Art Space will be hosting an interactive exhibition of sculptures created by sculptor Mkrtich Mazmanian and...
15:40
Ruben Vardanyan launches hunger strike in Baku, demands release of all Armenian prisoners
The family of illegally detained philanthropist, Ruben Vardanyan, announced today that he entered into a hunger strike to demand the immediate...
15:06
Lavrov: Russia still considers Armenia an ally
Russia still considers Armenia an ally not only legally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said, highlighting Moscow's...
14:33
Stepantsminda-Larsi road closed to trucks
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about closed roads in Armenia on Friday afternoon. In particular, the roads linking the Amberd high...
14:14
Expert: What Russia gains from troop withdrawal from Artsakh?
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) could signal a new conspiracy against Armenia, says Armen Petrosyan, a...
13:34
Opposition MP: Pashinyan lying about possible territory swap with Azerbaijan
Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has brushed aside Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claims about a possible swap of territories with...
12:34
Cyprus parliament honors Armenian Genocide victims
The Cyprus House of Representatives on Thursday evening observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the Armenian genocide, with the...
12:15
EFJ and UJA demand immediate release of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its affiliate in Armenia, the Union of Journalists of Armenia (UJA), in denouncing the...
11:36
Baku must fulfil number of requirements to return to PACE, rapporteur says
Norwegian MP Lise Christoffersen, a PACE co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan, said that the Committee of Ministers is holding talks on Azerbaijan's...
11:16
Azerbaijan destroyed Kanach Zham in Shushi
Azerbaijan has destroyed the Armenian church of St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (St. John the Baptist) in Shushi, Artsakh, the Caucasus...
11:00
Iranian air defenses down three drones near Isfahan
Iranian state media said the country’s air defences brought down three small drones over the central city of Isfahan, hours after United...
17:05
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan blasts Pashinyan for crackdown on critics
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-host of the Imnemnimi podcast who is currently held in pre-trial detention in the Armavir...
16:34
Iran threatens Israeli nuclear sites should its own be attacked
Iran could review its nuclear doctrine, says a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, according to state media agency Tasnim....
16:11
Mkhitaryan calls chance for Inter to clinch Serie A title 'crazy' and 'historic'
Henrikh Mkhitaryan feels that the chance for Inter Milan to clinch the Serie A title against AC Milan is “crazy” and...
15:35
Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Karabakh to close down
The joint Russian-Turkish monitoring center in Nagorno-Karabakh will cease its operations, Turkish National Defense Ministry...
15:06
Rep. Eshoo: We must not wait another century to hold Azerbaijan accountable for crimes against Armenians
The United States must not wait another century to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh...
14:31
Protest to 'stop' Pashinyan held outside Armenian government
A group of people led by activist Vahagn Chakhalyan on Thursday staged a protest outside the Armenian government building in central Yerevan,...
13:55
Artsakh's entire cultural heritage at risk of destruction, expert warns
April 18 is observed annually as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, whose establishment was approved by the 22nd UNESCO General...
13:30
GRECO calls for stronger oversight and accountability in top executive functions and police in Armenia
The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), in a report published today, calls on Armenia to pursue its efforts to...
12:58
U.S. State Dept comments on withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) is yet another indication that Russia “is not a trustworthy...
12:36
Withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh not a surprise, expert says
The withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is no surprise, says analyst Sergei Melkonian, a research fellow at...
12:13
Protesters briefly block street in central Yerevan
A group of protesters briefly blocked Abovyan Street near the Yeritasardakan subway station in central Yerevan on Thursday morning. Police...
11:35
Conference in Antelias to address Azerbaijan's genocidal acts against Artsakh Armenians
Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the Cilicia Analytical Platform will host a pan-Armenian conference titled...
11:15
Activist Samvel Vardanyan released on bail, placed under house arrest
Activist Samvel Vardanyan, an Armenian government critic who was detained after confronting a pro-government MP on Monday, has been released on...
11:00
Rep. Sherman calls for expanded U.S. assistance for Artsakh Armenians
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) - who spearheaded the first U.S. aid package to Artsakh in 1998 - stressed the importance of expanding assistance to...
17:14
Pashinyan meets with Voskepar residents
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday met with residents of Voskepar, a village in Tavush Province, to assure them that the...
16:35
Official: Decision on peacekeepers’ pullout from Karabakh made by top leadership of Azerbaijan, Russia
The decision to withdraw Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh was made jointly by the top leadership of Azerbaijan and Russia, TASS...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}