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Turkey, Germany agree on initiative to end Russia-backed attacks on Syria's Aleppo

Xinhua, February 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkey and Germany agreed to launch a diplomatic initiative for ending Russian backed military operations in Aleppo of Syria, the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday.

Turkey and Germany would launch diplomatic initiative together for compliance of every side to 2254 resolution of United Nations Security Council, in a bid to "end Russian and other force's attacks," on Aleppo, the Turkish prime minister said in a joint press conference with his visiting German counterpart Angela Merkel.

"Inhumane attacks on Aleppo should end," said Davutoglu, accusing "Russia and other forces of supporting Syrian regime of being insincere."

"Russia has caused civilian deaths. There is a tragedy in Aleppo," he added.

There are some 30,000 Syrians waiting near Turkish border fleeing the Russian-backed air strikes, according to Davutoglu.

Merkel, for her part, said "thousands of people are exposed to Russian bombardment."

She recalled that Russia earlier agreed on UN Security Council's resolution of 2452, saying all parties pledged to end any attacks against civilians.

Turkey and Germany also agreed on an action plan which aims to support Syrian refugees fleeing civil war in their homeland, also prevent illegal crossings of them in Turkish-European border.

The two countries would call on NATO to get involved in efforts against human trafficking with use of the Alliance's observation capabilities in Aegean Sea, the Turkish prime minister said.

They would discuss the issue in the next meeting of NATO, Merkel stated.

Syrian army has reportedly become only 13 km from Turkish borders on Sunday, following military operations supported with Russian airstrikes against militant groups in the northern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo.

The Syrian army's wide-scale offensive in Aleppo aims at cutting the rebels supply lines from Turkey and separate the northern countryside of Aleppo from its city to further isolate the rebels, as a step to retake Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

The military forces' campaign in Aleppo is taking place with the backing of the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group and heavy Russian air cover, both key elements behind the sweeping advance of the Syrian army against the Turkey-backed militants in Aleppo. Endit