Germany: EU calls for end to Turkey's operation in Syria - government spokesperson

W/S German Federal Government press conference, Berlin
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "We appeal, like other European governments do, like Ms Mogherini does, to end the military operation.''
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "Turkey is strongly threatened, over and over again by terrorism. However, for us it's not a justification for the recently started military operation."
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government Spokesperson (German): "First of all we see the danger; the Turkish military operation brings a significant destabilisation to the region, people are put in need and distress, are being displaced."
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "A collateral problem that might arise now from the Turkish military operation in Northern Syria is that almost defeated IS will get new chances. And this is bad news for all of us, in Europe and elsewhere.''
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "After the consultation with the European partners, we have voiced our expectation, that the USA continue their engagement in Syria, especially that they co-ordinate the next steps with their partners.''
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "The Federal government will not grant new export permissions for armaments that could be used by Turkey in Syria. We should continue to conduct a restrictive and responsible armaments export policy.''
W/S Press conference, journalist asking question [UPSOUND German]: "What's the position of the Federal government regarding the demands, that already permitted arms export should be revoked?'' *CUTAWAY*
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SOT, Steffen Seibert, German Government spokesperson (German): "To this extent, I cannot tell you now, that the repeal of approval decisions that have been made in a very restrictive context is under debate.''
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SOT, Christofer Burger, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson (German): "Well, at the moment we cannot tell that the current situation in Syria legitimates a military intervention targeted at Kurdish groups in accordance with the international law.''
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SOT, Christofer Burger, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson (German): "We want to use all possibilities within the European framework to commonly influence Turkey because we believe this has a bigger impact. And he [German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas] also said, [that] we want to continue the dialogue with Turkey to commonly influence Turkey and if this doesn't have any effect, other necessary measures will be prepared."
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W/S Press conference
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SCRIPT
German Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert urged the Turkey to stop its military incursion into northern Syria, while speaking at a weekly press conference in Berlin on Monday.
"Turkey is strongly threatened, over and over again by terrorism. However, for us it's not a justification for the recently started military operation," he stated, adding that the Turkish operation in Syria "brings a significant destabilisation to the region."
Seibert went on to stress that Germany alongside the European Union ''have voiced... expectation, that the USA continue their engagement in Syria.''
Moreover, Seibert confirmed that Germany will suspend arms sales to Turkey that could be deployed in the country's military operation in Syria, adding that the German government ''should continue to conduct a restrictive and responsible armaments export policy.''
Speaking on the European position, German Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Christofer Burger stated that if the dialogue with Turkey won't have any effect, "other necessary measures will be prepared."
Ankara's military offensive dubbed 'Operation Peace Spring' began on October 9 with the alleged aim of creating a 'safe zone' in north-eastern Syria cleared of Kurdish forces. The offensive sparked protests in several countries and has drawn widespread criticism from EU member states.