ISTANBUL, Turkey — Turkey on Wednesday said it wanted
the sole border crossing for aid into Syria to remain open, adding that it was
holding talks at the
UN Security Council to address Russia's reluctance.
اضافة اعلان
The Bab Al-Hawa crossing from Turkey into Syria will close
on July 10 unless it receives authorization to stay open for another year by
the United Nations Security Council, where Russia wields veto power.
Russia, a major ally of President Bashar Al-Assad, prefers
to see the aid delivered from
Damascus, arguing that the existing crossing is
used to supply rebel fighters with arms.
Turkey has supported rebel fighters against Assad throughout
the decade-long conflict and has a military presence in northern Syria.
"The UN Security Council should extend the mandate
concerning this border crossing," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu said after talks with his Russian counterpart
Sergei Lavrov in the
southern Turkish resort of Antalya.
"What can we do to overcome Russia's hesitations? We
are also holding talks with the UN Security Council members," he said.
"This is a humanitarian issue, not a political one."
The United States warned on Monday that Russia would put at
risk hopes for more constructive relations if it used its UN veto to shut the
border crossing.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week urged all
Security Council nations to reach a consensus to preserve the crossing, which
allows aid to reach some three million people living in Syria's Idlib region.
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