EU calls upon Turkey to cease military action in Syria

The European Union (EU) said that a sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict cannot be achieved militarily and called upon Turkey to cease the unilateral military action in war-torn country.

In a statement, the EU said that renewed armed hostilities in the north-east will further undermine the stability of the whole region, exacerbate civilian suffering and provoke further displacements. Prospects for the UN-led political process to achieve peace in Syria will be more difficult.

Unilateral action on Turkey's part threatens the progress achieved by the Global Coalition to defeat of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, it said in a statement.

Military action will indeed undermine the security of the Coalition's local partners and risk protracted instability in north-east Syria, providing fertile ground for the resurgence of the IS which remains a significant threat to regional, international and the European security.

The secure detention of terrorist fighters is imperative to prevent them from joining the ranks of terrorist groups, it said.

Turkey is a key partner of the EU and a critically important actor in the Syrian crisis and the region and the bloc commends Ankara for its important role as a host country of the Syrian refugees.

Turkey's security concerns should be addressed through political and diplomatic means, not military action, by international humanitarian law. The EU continues to urge all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and unhindered, safe and sustainable humanitarian access throughout Syria.

The EU remains committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state. These can be assured only through a genuine political transition in line with UNSCR 2254 and the 2012 Geneva Communique, negotiated by the Syrian parties within the UN-led Geneva process, it said.