Merkel should make Idlib top priority: German lawmaker

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Chancellor Angela Merkel must make Idlib her top priority, and pursue a more active diplomacy to prevent an imminent humanitarian catastrophe in the the northwestern Syrian city, a senior German lawmaker said.

Margarete Bause from the opposition Green Party has warned that a large-scale Syrian military offensive on the last opposition stronghold would cause severe bloodshed and major civilian casualties

“We must do everything that we can in the international platforms to prevent an imminent humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib. More than four million civilians, including one million children are at risk there,” she told Anadolu Agency.

Bause, a member of the German parliament’s human rights committee, called on Merkel to increase her diplomatic efforts for Idlib, and talk to all relevant actors.

“Merkel should have talks with Russian President Putin, Turkish President Erdogan and U.S. President Trump to find a solution and prevent a humanitarian crisis. One should at least reach an agreement on a humanitarian corridor,” she said.

Bause said Europe would face another major refugee wave in case of a major military offensive in Idlib.

Located near the Turkish border, Idlib province is home to around 4 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.

The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive to the area, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.

The UN warned earlier this week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".

A trilateral summit of the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran on Friday underlined that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict" and called for advancing the political process to reach a negotiated solution.