Remarks to the Press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia after the Security Council consultations on Syria
Q.: Ambassador, will you ask Turkey to stop this operation?
A.: Me, personally?
Q.: Russia.
A.: Look, we already commented on it. We said that all sides should exercise maximum restraint during that operation. Another thing is that this operation is a result of demographic engineering that some of the coalition partners did in the North-East of Syria. We warned them, a long time from now, not to experiment with that, not to try to counter Arab tribes that traditionally live in that area to the Kurdish ones.
In fact, now the coalition is reaping the fruit of their demographic policies in that part of Syria.
Q.: Will you support buffer zone made by Turkey inside Syria?
A.: We were calling upon Turkey and Syria to engage in a dialogue in accordance with the Adana Agreement of 1998. It is regrettable that it was not done. I think it is generally the best way for whoever: to engage in a direct dialogue. We encouraged the Kurds to engage in direct dialogue with the Syrian government, but as you know they preferred other protectors. And now – well, you see what is happening.
Q.: Ambassador, what about a product of the Security Council?
A.: If there is a product of the Security Council, it should take into account other aspects of the Syrian crisis, not just the Turkish operation. It should also speak about the illegal military presence in that country and the need to terminate it immediately. There are many other issues on the Syrian file that should be mentioned if there is any product of the Security Council.
