Jurist: Safe zone, to Turkey, means Jabhet al-Nusra entry to north, east Syria

SHERIF AL-ABO / MANBIJ

Recently, the US President Donald Trump has said that a safe zone would be established in the north and east of Syria, without mentioning who would supervise it or the areas it includes, saying that it would be in depth of 20 miles (32 kilometers).

The Turkish President Recep Teyyip Erdogan declared after a phone call with his US counterpart that Turkey would oversee the safe zone that is supposed to be established, and said that Washington must support Ankara in this context.

Commenting on the issue of the safe zone and its legal aspects, Hawar news agency interviewed the jurist Mohammed Berkel, and he is from Manbaj.

Mohammed Berkel pointed out that there is nothing in the international charters called safe zones.

He added, "The international conventions and the four agreements held in Geneva in 1949 did not provide for anything called a safe zone, and even the protocols attached them in 1977 did not include a safe zone, but there is a buffer zone, no-fly zones and safe corridors."

Mohammed pointed out that the safe zone is a customary international law and is in a state of conflict between two states or two internal parties to maintain the civilians and isolate them from the conflict zones so a safe zone is established and humanitarian corridors are opened to reach humanitarian assistance to the civilians there.

He pointed out that the safe zones in the new concept put forward by Turkey does not apply to the safe zone according to the international custom, noting that the conflict in Syria is a Syrian conflict, and Turkey put the concept of the safe zone to intervene in the Syrian territories, and this is a violation of customary international laws and the sovereignty of Syria and it is out of the safe zones.

Mohammed said, "Turkey is looking for safe zones according to its concept. It asked for safe zones in north-west Syria, from Jarablus to al-Bab, Afrin and Idlib. The conflict in these areas did not end, but it brought the terrorist extremists to the region."

He continued, "Turkey created confusion, conflict and suffering for the citizens more intensified than the previous conflict as a result of the kidnapping operations and the attacks in which the mercenaries supported by Turkey violate the inviolability and dignity of civilians."

Mohammed assured that Turkey's goal is clear. Even the mercenaries realize that Turkey's goal is to preserve its national security. According to the concept of Turkey, its national security is threatened by the Kurds, and the concept posed by Turkey is an occupation in all sense and is not considered a safe zone.

Mohammed mentioned, "The safe zone needs a resolution from the Security Council, and the situation demanded by Turkey is not in line with Geneva Convention, but the violation of a state of another state's sovereignty without justification considering its occupation a "safe zone", and this is unacceptable."

Mohammed made clear, "Actually, the safe zone must be between the Kurds and Turkey. Since seven years of the revolution so far, the areas of northeastern Syria have not fired a shot at the Turkish territories," stressing that the north-east of Syria is in fact a safe and stable zone.

Mohammed stressed that the international community is required to take its responsibilities towards the Turkish ambitions, noting that by the safe zone, Turkey means to enter Jabhet al-Nusra mercenaries to the areas of north-east Syria.

Mohammed praised the success of the administration in the north-east of Syria whose success and stability are witnessed by the world. It is safe amid the presence of allied global forces in the region, and the sample of management applied in this region has become an example to be followed.

Mohammed concluded that the countries in Syria are not humanitarian organizations, but they are looking for their interests. Furthermore, the acceptance of the safe zone in the Turkish sense by the countries means submitting to Turkey. However, if the countries established a safe zone in the real sense to stop the tension between north-east Syria and Turkey through the entry of international forces, the establishment of points on the borders as well as the establishment of air embargo, that would not violate the international conventions.

D.H

ANHA