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Conflict in Syria

UN SC to hold closed meeting on Turkey’s plans of use of troops in Syria later on Friday

The meeting was initiated by Russia and is due to begin at 15:00 local time, or 23:00 Moscow time

© EPA/OKAN OZER/ANADOLU AGENCY

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Moscow says Turkey undermines international efforts on normalizing situation in Syria

UNITED NATIONS, February 19. /TASS/. The United Nations Security Council will discuss Turkey’s plans to deploy troops in northern Syria at its closed-door meeting later on Friday, a source in the United Nations told TASS.

"The meeting was initiated by Russia and is due to begin at 15:00 (local time, or 23:00 Moscow time). A secretariat representative is expected to have a briefing," he source said, adding that the meeting was officially put on the United Nations Security Council’s schedule.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on earlier Friday that Russia plans to initiate a meeting of the United Nations Security Council later on Friday over the aggravation of the situation at the Syrian-Turkish border and Turkey’s plans to deploy its troops in northern Syria. "The situation in the region is further aggravating over the deterioration at the Syrian-Turkish border and Turkey’s plans to deploy its troops in northern Syria," she said.

"In this connection, Russia plans to initiate a United Nations Security Council meeting today to discuss this issue and initiate a draft resolution that will demand the cessation of all actions undermining Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and running counter to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 and efforts towards the launch of the Syrian peace process," she said.

The Financial Times said on Friday Turkey is planning to deploy its troops in Syria’s northern provinces whereas Saudi Arabia seeks to deploy troops in the south. The United States, according to the Financial Times, is trying to keep Ankara and Riyadh from military activities in Syria as NATO is worried over the perspective of deploying Turkish troops in a country where Russia is conducting a military operation.

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