Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio on Thursday said he opposed the Turkish government's plan to send back two million Syrian refugees to a "safe zone" cleared of Kurdish militias by an ongoing military offensive.
"After looking at the situation in the region I am against forced repatriations," Di Maio said after talks with UN special envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen.
"These are not on the agenda. We need to work together in a coordinated way and in the same direction," Di Maio said said.
Di Maio urged humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees, 3.6 million of whom are living on Turkish soil.
Over 200,000 people have been displaced by the deadly military offensive Turkey launched in northern Syria on 9 October - Operation Peace Spring.
