MFA: Turkey can make Syria safe zone without US agreement
  • WORLD

  • 19:07 02 August 2019

MFA: Turkey can make Syria safe zone without US agreement

If efforts to find common ground with the U.S. prove unsuccessful, Turkey will have to create a safe zone in Syria on its own, said Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, ONA reports citing Anadolu Agency.

Talks on the issue will continue with a U.S. military delegation due in Turkey next Monday, ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy told a press conference.

On the issue, Turkey expects the creation of a 32-kilometer (20-mile) safe zone in northern Syria, giving Turkey control of this region, which must be cleared of the terrorist groups PYD/YPG, Syrian branches of the PKK, he said.

All aspects of the safe zone and the Syrian conflict have been discussed during recent visits to Turkey by James Jeffrey, the U.S. envoy for the anti-Daesh coalition, Aksoy added.

But Aksoy warned that Turkey’s patience is limited.

“We won’t let this process be dragged out. If our expectations aren’t met, we are fully capable of taking whatever measures [are needed] to ensure our national security.”

He stressed that Turkey wants to clear the area of all terror elements and establish a “peace corridor.”

ONA

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