Moscow calls on Turkey to let monitors into Kurdish areas

[Anthea]

Moscow calls on Turkey to let international monitors into Kurdish areas
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

The Russian foreign ministry spoke up against the situation in the Kurdish areas of Turkey on Thursday and urged the Turkish government to let international monitors into the area to report on the ongoing military confrontations and civilian conditions.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “despite all international efforts to investigate the fighting in southeastern Turkey, Turkey is not allowing the monitors to go there,”

Zakharova said at a press conference that more than 300 civilians have been killed in clashes since last July.

The Turkish army and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have been locked in street battles in several towns and cities chief among them the Sur of Diyarbakir since last summer.

Tens of thousands have been displaced and more than two hundred civilians killed, according to local activists.

The Russian foreign ministry said that the Turkish military actions have been condemned by the United Nations human rights commission as serious violation of human rights.

“Even medical help has been stopped from reaching the area,” Zakharova said.

Relations between Ankara and Moscow deteriorated last November when Turkey shot down a Russian jet near its southern border with Syria.

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/20052016