Turkey claims progress on Syria safe zone
Despite claims from Ankara that Turkey and the United States are making headway on a safe zone in northern Syria, sources familiar with the talks say no tangible progress had been achieved and that Ankara's positive spin is likely inspired by empty US promises.
Turkish officials claim Ankara and Washington have moved closer on a proposed safe zone in northern Syria following two days of talks with Jim Jeffrey, the United States’ top envoy for Syrian affairs.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar hinted at a breakthrough with reporters today, saying, “Mr. Jeffrey was kind enough to to come to Istanbul. We had a very useful, positive meeting. We put all of our arguments, proposals and demands clearly on the table and they listened with profound understanding.” Akar continued, “Having put forward the same views that we had in the past I was extremely happy to see that Jeffrey and his delegation have moved closer to our position. I see that in future meetings on bilateral issues, notably the safe zone, we will be moving even closer.”
Turkey’s position is that US-backed Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as a threat to its national security, must be pushed down some 30 kilometers (16 miles) south of the Turkish border. It wants Turkish forces be allowed full control over the proposed zone and for the YPG to be disarmed of all heavy weapons acquired from the US-led coalition in their common fight against the Islamic State.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Ankara said Jeffrey's series of meetings with senior Turkish officials including presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Deputy Foreign Minister Sadat Onal had “focused on how we could advance issues of mutual concern in Syria, to include addressing Turkey’s legitimate security concerns, promoting stability and security in northern Syria as the US military draws down its presence and the implementation of UNSCR 2254 on the resolution of the Syrian conflict.”
