Foreign Minister Says US Envoy Offer for Syria Safe Zone 'Not Satisfying'

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Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that the US offer for a "safe zone" in northern Syria gave them "an impression of a delaying process," in a joint press conference with his Nicaraguan counterpart in the capital Ankara.

The Presidency released a short statement after the meeting of Kalın and Jeffrey, saying that the formation of a safe zone in the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria and the "Manbij roadmap" was discussed between the delegations.

"It was noted during the meeting that a safe zone can be established only through a plan that meets Turkey's expectations," the statement said.

The US Embassy in Ankara also released a statement after the meeting, saying, "Both sides committed to accelerated and concrete progress on the Manbij Roadmap, and discussed detailed proposals to enhance Turkey's security along the Turkish border in northeast Syria."

"The discussions were forthright, positive, and productive. The U.S. and Turkey continue to exchange views on mutual concerns in Syria and we look forward to continuing these discussions, including through military-to-military consultations," it added.

Jeffrey and Kalın met at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

However, Minister Çavuşoğlu was not impressed with the meeting, saying that the US offers are not "satisfying."

"The depth of the safe zone, who will control these areas and the removal of the YPG/PKK [People's Defense Units/Kurdistan Workers' Party] from the area are the most sensitive matters. We have not reached an agreement on these matters," Çavuşoğlu said.

Çavuşoğlu also said that the Manbij Roadmap he and his US counterpart approved on June 4, 2018, has not been implemented yet.

"The process was going to be completed within 90 days and we would cross to the east of the Euphrates. We were going to bring the Manbij model there. Not 90 days but a year passed. One year and one month passed. The roadmap has not been implemented yet in Manbij," the minister said.

Turkey recent sent reinforcements to the Syrian border, while reports on a possible military operation into the areas held by the YPG are circulating on the media. (AÖ/VK)

*Photos: Presidency of the Republic of Turkey