In the struggle for an international response to the Turkish invasion of northern Syria, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer advances: The Federal Defense Minister calls for an internationally controlled security zone in the Syrian border region with Turkey.
An appropriate proposal she had on Monday with Chancellor Angela Merkel voted and proposed to Western allies, said Kramp-Karrenbauer the news agency dpa. She will present her proposal on the sidelines of the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
The situation in Syria severely affects the security interests of Europe and Germany, said Kramp-Karrenbauer. In this situation, however, both had previously been too passive, "like onlookers".
That is why "an impetus and a political initiative from Germany are meaningful for a European initiative in NATO," said the Minister. About a possible participation of the Bundeswehr must decide the Bundestag. The goal must also be a civilian reconstruction program.
CDU foreign policy pleaded for Bundeswehr deployment, Maas reacts restrained
Previously, the CDU foreign policy politician Roderich Kiesewetter had already spoken for a protection zone under international mandate. This could be secured by 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers from EU countries. One must of course be prepared to send European soldiers, including the Bundeswehr, there, "said Kieswetter in the Inforadio of the RBB.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) said, however, that it was too early for such considerations. "Now, the main thing is to make sure that the military action does not continue after the ceasefire has ended, that there is a political solution," he said. The Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock accused the Union of a diversionary maneuver, because the security zone could not be addressed immediately.
Turkey launched an offensive against the Kurdish militia YPG in northern Syria on 9 October, which it regards as a terrorist organization. Ankara explains the procedure with the right to self-defense. The Federal Government considers the invasion illegal under international law. Until now, she has refrained from sanctions except for a restriction of arms exports to Turkey.
In just over a week, at least 165,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, including an estimated 70,000 children, according to recent data from the UN Emergency Relief Agency Ocha.
