Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock criticised Turkey’s possible new military action in northern Syria in a meeting with her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Friday.
She said that all countries have the right to defend themselves, but that the rules of international law must be followed.
These international rules also apply to Turkey’s possible operation in Syria, she noted.
She added that Turkey’s new operation will lead to more suffering in the region.
“It will be only terror organisations who are likely to exploit such a military conflict to gain foothold again,” she said.
Baerbock was to meet Çavuşoğlu on 8 June but the meeting was canceled after she tested positive for COVID-19.
The German FM met on Saturday with representatives of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP).
During her meeting with HDP, the closure case against HDP, the situation regarding incarceration of HDP officials and Turkey’s possible military operation in Syria were reportedly on the agenda.
The upcoming elections were discussed in the meeting of the minister with CHP representatives.