Turkish Defence Minister: Efforts with US on safe zone to end if delay happens

Turkish Defence Minister: Efforts with US on safe zone to end if delay happens
# 20 September 2019 11:07 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish defense minister on Thursday warned that the efforts with the U.S. on establishment of a safe zone east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria will end if distraction or delay takes place, APA reports citing Yeni Safak.

"We will continue negotiation and joint efforts [to establish a safe zone] as long as they meet our goals and objectives," Hulusi Akar said in the capital Ankara.

Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had said if the desired result on the zone is not achieved with the U.S. within two weeks, Turkey will start applying its own action plan.

On Aug. 7, Turkish and U.S. military officials agreed to set up a safe zone in northern Syria and develop a peace corridor to facilitate the movement of displaced Syrians who want to return home. They also agreed to establish a joint operations center.

The agreement also envisaged setting up necessary security measures to address Turkey's security concerns, including clearing the zone of the terrorist YPG/PKK, a group the U.S. has sometimes been allied with, over Turkey’s objections.

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