ANKARA, Oct 7 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, agreed in a phone conversation, on Sunday, to meet in Washington in Nov.
The two leaders exchanged views on the safe zone agreed upon to be established in Syria, during which Erdogan complained to Trump on the U.S. military and security “bureaucracy,” said a statement.
Setting up a safe zone is essential for eliminating threat posed by outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as the Syrian branch of the PKK, and for facilitating the safe return of Syrian refugees to their country, Erdogan told Trump, according to the statement.
Turkey is determined to continue to fight the Daesh in Syria and take all necessary measures to prevent such a problem in the region from happening again.
On Aug 7, Turkish and U.S. officials agreed to set up a safe zone and develop a “peace corridor” in northern Syria, which would address Ankara’s security concerns about the Kurdish faction that controls the territory.
However, Ankara is dissatisfied for delays in withdrawing the YPG group, while the United States continues arms support to the Kurdish fighters. Turkey also wants to set up military bases in the safe zone.
Erdogan recently warns that Turkey can take unilateral military actions if the United States fails to meet the requirements of the safe zone deal.
