France says Turkey must observe Syria ceasefire in Afrin

French President Emmanuel Macron says Turkey must observe a United Nations Security Council resolution on a month-long ceasefire in Syria including its northwestern region of Afrin where Ankara is waging an offensive against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

In a telephone call on Monday, Macron told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the ceasefire "involved all Syrian territory, including in Afrin, and must be put into effect everywhere and by everyone without delay", the French presidency said.

The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria 'without delay' to allow aid delivery and medical evacuations.

PressTV-UNSC votes in favor of Syria ceasefire resolution

The UN Security Council unanimously votes in favor of a resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria.

The resolution was adopted by 15 votes to none, after several delays and a flurry of last-minute negotiations amid growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta near the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Turkey on Sunday welcomed the Security Council resolution, but said it would have no effect on Ankara's ongoing cross-border offensive in Afrin.

PressTV-Syria truce not to affect Afrin offensive: Turkey

Turkey says the UN Security Council resolution on ceasefire in Syria will not affect its ongoing cross-border offensive in Afrin.

"We welcome the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in response to the worsening humanitarian situation all across Syria, in particular in Eastern Ghouta," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Turkey launched the so-called Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin on January 20 in a bid to eliminate the YPG, which Ankara views as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkey has warned that the Afrin offensive could expand to the nearby Syrian city of Manbij.

Read more:

• Turkish military not avoiding civilians in strikes against Syria’s Afrin: HRW
• Turkish army shells pro-Syrian government forces as they enter Afrin
• Two civilians killed, four injured in Turkish shelling on Syria's Afrin
• Turkey will lay siege to Syria’s Afrin in coming days: Erdogan

During the phone conversation, the French president expressed concern over the ongoing military offensive in Eastern Ghouta.

Macron told Erdogan that he was "deeply worried" about the bombardments of Eastern Ghouta, saying France would remain "vigilant" concerning humanitarian aid to the area and any use of chemical weapons.

Eastern Ghouta has witnessed renewed violence in the past few days, where terrorists have mounted repeated mortar attacks on the Syrian capital in the face of an imminent rout. Western powers, however, blame the Syrian government and Russia for the crisis.

A suspected new chemical attack has reportedly hit Eastern Ghouta just after Russia warned that militants were planning a gas attack there to pin it on the Syrian government.

PressTV-Reports of chlorine attack in Syria after Russian warning

Shortly after Moscow warns of militant plans to stage a gas attack and blame it on government, militant sources say a child is dead and several people have suffered symptoms of exposure to chlorine gas in Eastern Ghouta.

Militant sources were quoted as saying that several people suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas in the al-Shayfouniya area on Sunday, and one child was killed.

Late in February, Russia warned that militants in Eastern Ghouta were preparing to launch a chemical attack.

PressTV-'Militants plan chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta'

Russia warns that militants in Eastern Ghouta are preparing to launch a chemical attack which they plan to blame on the Syrian government.

"The data at our disposal indicates the leaders of militant units are preparing a provocation that will involve the utilization of chemical weapons in order to accuse the government forces of deploying chemical weapons against peaceful civilians," said a report released by the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria.

Operation Olive Branch has heightened tensions with the United States, which works closely with the YPG in fighting against Daesh terrorists in Syria.

In a statement on Sunday, the Kremlin said the Russian, French and German leaders agreed to speed up their "exchange of information" on Syria.

PressTV-Russia, France, Germany leaders discuss Syria

The Russian, French and German leaders agree to speed up their 'exchange of information' over Syria.

It added that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Syrian crisis with French and German leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, respectively.

According to the statement, Putin, Macron and Merkel stressed "the importance of continuing common efforts in the interests of the full implementation of the resolution as soon as possible."

Read more:

• Syrian army retakes Eastren Ghouta areas in counter-terrorism campaign
• Eastern Ghouta militants kill civilian in mortar attack on Damascus: TV
• France not eligible to play role in Syria peace process: Damascus

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