#Turkey - 'This is not a ceasefire, it is a demand for capitulation' Tusk 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the European Council lDonald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, 2017

President of the European Council Donald Tusk said he did not want to provoke new tensions between the EU and Turkey, but added that “the so-called ceasefire in North-East Syria is not what we expected, it is not a ceasefire it is a demand for capitulation on the part of the Kurds.”  

He called for consistency and reiterated the EU's call for a permanent end to its military action and to withdraw its forces, as well as respecting international humanitarian law. He said that this was certainly not the outcome of US Vice-President Mike Pence and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreement. 

In its conclusions to the European Council, the EU condemned Turkeyʼs unilateral military action in North East Syria which is causing unacceptable human suffering, isundermines the fight against Daʼesh/ISIS and threatens European security.  

The European Council urged Turkey to end its military action, to withdraw its forces and to respect international humanitarian law.  

The EU states that it remains engaged in its efforts towards effectively addressing the serious humanitarian and refugee crisis in the light of evolving needs, including by supporting those Member States that are facing the most serious challenges in terms of migratory flows in the Eastern Mediterranean.  

Cyprus 

On illegal drilling activities off the coast of Cyprus by a Turkish drilling company the European Council repeated its condemnation of Turkeyʼs illegal drilling activities in Cyprusʼ Exclusive Economic Zone and reaffirmed its solidarity with Cyprus. 

Illegal off-shore drilling rig

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