Information
Equipo Nizkor
        Bookshop | Donate
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor       

24Jul15

Français | Español

Letter from the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN regarding the actions undertaken by Turkey in Syria

United Nations
Security Council

S/2015/563

Distr.: General
24 July 2015
Original: English

Letter dated 24 July 2015 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Upon instructions from my Government, I am writing to you with regard to the situation in Syria.

Bloodshed, agony and the suffering of the Syrian people continue to grow after the regime in Syria has chosen to wage a war against the Syrian people, who took to the streets in peaceful demonstrations for democratic reforms and freedoms in 2011.

Today, the death toll is considered to be well above 300,000. Half of the Syrian population is displaced internally and internationally. We bear the brunt, as almost 10 per cent of Syrians are now living in Turkey.

The developments in Syria have been affecting Turkey greatly, since we share a long border with this region. We have been facing threats and attacks emanating from Syria since the start of the conflict. So far, 158 Turkish citizens have lost their lives to the attacks originating from Syria.

With the emergence of Daesh, the threats from Syria gained new dimensions. Syria has become a safe haven for Daesh. This area is used by Daesh for training, planning, financing and carrying out attacks across borders. Also, Security Council resolutions 2170 (2014) and 2178 (2014) have underscored the threat posed by Daesh and the resolve of the international community to combat Daesh.

The terrorist attack that took the lives of 32 Turkish citizens in Suruc on 20 July 2015 reaffirms that Turkey is under a clear and imminent threat of continuing attack from Daesh. Most recently, on 23 July 2015, Daesh attacked the border military post in Elbeyli and killed a Turkish soldier.

It is apparent that the regime in Syria is neither capable of nor willing to prevent these threats emanating from its territory, which clearly imperil the security of Turkey and the safety of its nationals.

Individual and collective self-defence is our inherent right under international law, as reflected in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.

On this basis, Turkey has initiated necessary and proportionate military actions against Daesh in Syria, including in coordination with individual members of the Global Coalition, in order to counter the terrorist threat and to safeguard its territory and citizens.

I would be grateful if the text of the present letter could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Levent Eler
Deputy Permanent Representative
Chargé d'affaires a.i.
Bookshop Donate Radio Nizkor

Syria War
small logoThis document has been published on 31Jul15 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.