IS militants advance into Kobane

The Main Focus of Euro|Topics for the 8 October 2014 offered excerpts of articles from various European newspapers on the situation of the spread of Islamic State in Syria to the border with Turkey - and the seeming inaction of the Turksih authorities

Despite international airstrikes and Kurdish resistance, IS militias penetrated deep into Kobane, a small Kurdish town on the Syrian-Turkish border, on the 7 October 2014. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that he feared the Syrian border city could soon be taken. Ankara must overcome its reservations vis-à-vis the Kurds and finally help defend Kobane, commentators in newspapers urged.

Related to this, BBC News and other sources reported on the 8 October 2014 that at least 12 people had been killed in clashes between Kurdish protesters and police in Turkey. The protesters were unhappy at perceived Turkish inaction in defending the town of Kobane in Syria from the attack by Islamic State militants.

A BBC analysyt said 'The crisis in Kobane is reawakening the ghosts of armed conflict between Turkey and the Kurds'.

Kurdish demonstrators burst into the European Parliament building in Brussels on the 7 October 2014 to protest against international inaction against the 'Islamic State'.

Deutsche Welle reported on the 9 October 2014 that there were growing concerns that the fighting in Kobane could spill over the border into Turkey. If this happened, Turkey had said it could invoke a provision under which NATO allies were required to come to its aid.

The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on the 9 October 2014 and said that he came to hear Turkey’s views, efforts and concerns on the situation in the region.

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it could not be expected to lead a ground operation against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria on its own.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Find further information in ESO on Islamic State http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=islamic%20state%20&searchOption=all

ESO: Background information: Turkey prepares for action against IS http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-prepares-for-action-against-is/

BBC News, 08.10.14: At least 12 dead as Kurds protest in Turkey http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29530640

ESO: Background information: Find further information in ESO on Turkey and its relations with the Kurds http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=turkey%20kurds%20&searchOption=all

Deutsche Welle, 07.10.14: Kurds plead with European Parliament for Kobani help http://dw.de/p/1DRok

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Turkish military action in the Middle East http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-10-tuerkeieinmarsch/

The Conversation, 08.10.14: Turkey stuck at a crossroads as Islamic State terrorises Kobanê https://theconversation.com/turkey-stuck-at-a-crossroads-as-islamic-state-terrorises-kobane-32654

The Conversation, 07.10.14: Kobanê teeters on the brink in a fight to the end against ISIS https://theconversation.com/kobane-teeters-on-the-brink-in-a-fight-to-the-end-against-isis-32613

Star, 09.10.14: Kurds don't want miliary strikes in Kobane (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE151684-Kurds-don-t-want-miliary-strikes-in-Kobane

Deutsche Welle, 09.10.14: How NATO's Article 5 could work in the case of Turkey http://dw.de/p/1DSOg

BBC News, 09.10.14: Turkish action against IS in Syria 'unrealistic' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29548662

NATO: News, 09.10.14: NATO Secretary General shows Alliance solidarity in Turkey http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_113773.htm

NATO: News: Speeches and Transcripts, 09.10.14: Joint press point with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg - Secretary General's Opening Remarks http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_113776.htm

Euronews, 09.10.14: Turkey: Kurdish clashes multiply over Kobani inaction http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/09/turkey-kurdish-clashes-multiply-over-kobani-inaction/

BBC News, 11.10.14: Syria: Kobane siege death toll 'passes 500' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29585459

The Conversation, 12.10.14: Everything’s at stake for the Kurds in the battle for Kobanê https://theconversation.com/everythings-at-stake-for-the-kurds-in-the-battle-for-kobane-32646

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 14.10.14: Turkey and US at odds over military bases http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER151928-Turkey-and-US-at-odds-over-military-bases

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: The battle for Kobane http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-10-kobane/

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