EU voices concern over Turkish operation against Kurdish group in Sydia

BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said Monday that she is "extremely worried" about the Turkish military operation in Afrin, Syria, against the Kurdish YPG fighters.
"We discussed this today with the ministers at the opening of our meeting. I am extremely worried and I will discuss this, among other things, with our Turkish interlocutors," she told a press conference at the end of an EU foreign ministers meeting.
Mogherini indicated that her talks would be held with Turkey's Minister for European Affairs Omer Celik, who is scheduled to visit Brussels in the coming days.
"We need to make sure that humanitarian access is guaranteed and that the civilian population and people are not suffering from military activities on the ground," she stressed.
"We also need to make sure that any military activity is focused at anti-Da'esh, in terms of strategy," she added, using the Arabic acronym used for the so-called Islamic State group.
"And the other thing that worries me and us a lot is the fact that this, among other things, including military activities from others in Syria, can undermine seriously the resumption of talks in Geneva," she said.
EU foreign ministers had an informal lunch with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the Middle East Peace Process.
Mohgerini underlined the EU's support to a two-state solution and the status of Jerusalem as a future capital of two states, Palestine and Israel.
"We have decided to organise in one of the next meetings - hopefully already in February - a meeting with the six Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab States follow-up committee that are following the issue of the Middle East Peace Process to create a close link with the region," she said.
The six Arab League states, Mogherini was referring to, include, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinians and Jordan.
The EU foreign ministers also held a debate on Libya at which the UN Secretary General's Special Representative Ghassam Salame gave an overview of the state of play of the political process.
They discussed the importance of EU engagement in Libya as a way of supporting UN efforts there, as well as those UN agencies working to address the situation of migrants in Libya.
They also highlighted the importance of continuing to work with countries of origin, in particular in the Sahel region, said an EU statement. (end) nk.sd