Syrian opposition groups meet with Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu, back safe zone plan

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held a meeting with Riad Hijab, the head of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main body of the Syrian opposition, on Monday to discuss the latest humanitarian catastrophe caused by regime offensives supported by Russia and Iran.

An HNC press statement released yesterday expressed gratitude for and appreciation of the Turkish government for its efforts regarding Syrian refugees in Turkey, "as well as providing a safe zone from the indiscriminate bombing launched by the regime and its allies against civilian-populated areas."

The opposition leader have also urged for the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254 and reiterated the necessity of removing the siege from cities that disables the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.N. and international community were also called on to "release all detainees, halt aerial and artillery bombing of civilians and civilian targets, and for all parties to immediately honor obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law," the statement added.

Meanwhile, the health minister of Syria's opposition government said that they have backed Ankara's plans for a safe zone for refugees in northern Syria.

Mohamed Wajih Jumaa spoke to Anadolu Agency at the Öncüpınar border crossing between Syria and Turkey's Kilis province, where tens of thousands of his compatriots have fled to escape a Russia-backed offensive in Aleppo."If the safe zone was built maybe people wouldn't go through this tragedy and so many people wouldn't die," he said Monday.

"Building a safe zone would be good for Syrians. We trust the policy of the Turkish government on this issue. Turkey is a party that sees and knows all sides of this issue. If a safe zone is built then Syrians would have a place to be protected."

Ankara has long advocated the establishment of a safe zone for refugees across its southern border between Jarablous on the western bank of the Euphrates and Azaz after DAESH is driven from the territory.

Turkey currently is home to some 2.5 million Syrian refugees – the world's largest refugee population. Ankara has spent $8 billion caring for those fleeing the five-year war in Syria, and last week the EU approved a 3 billion euro ($3.33 billion) aid package to Ankara to help care for refugees.