Ambassador Kelly Craft
Permanent Representative
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York City
October 16, 2019
AS DELIVERED
Good afternoon. The United States calls on Turkey to halt its offensive and declare a ceasefire immediately.
To this end and at the President’s direction, Vice President Pence is now leading a delegation including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, United States National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Ambassador James Jeffrey to press for an immediate ceasefire and discuss the conditions for a negotiated settlement.
Turkey’s military offensive into northeast Syria is undermining the campaign to defeat ISIS, endangering innocent civilians and threatening peace, security, and stability in the region.
We have made it clear with Turkey that any actions in northeast Syria in violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, are unacceptable.
This includes, but is not limited to targeting the Kurdish population, religious minorities including Christians, and civilian infrastructure, and ensuring that no humanitarian crisis takes place.
Officials and individuals responsible for human-rights abuses will be and must be held accountable.
Due to Turkey’s actions, the President has signed an Executive Order authorizing the Departments of State and Treasury to consider and impose sanctions. Sanctions have already been imposed on three senior Turkish officials and two government ministries.
We continue to call on Turkey to take the following critical steps:
- cease undermining the campaign to defeat ISIS;
- cease endangering civilians;
- cease threatening peace, security, and stability in the region; and
- cease its offensive and declare a ceasefire immediately.
Thank you.
###
