US and Turkey Agree, Operation Paused for 120 Hours

Photos: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US Vice President Mike Pence met at the Presidency in Ankara today (October 17).

After the meeting ended, US President Donald Trump has announced that Turkey and the US have agreed to a ceasefire in Syria.

Trump: Millions of lives saved

Trump has tweeted, This is a great day for civilization. I am proud of the United States for sticking by me in following a necessary, but somewhat unconventional, path. People have been trying to make this "Deal" for many years. Millions of lives will be saved. Congratulations to ALL!"

This is a great day for civilization. I am proud of the United States for sticking by me in following a necessary, but somewhat unconventional, path. People have been trying to make this “Deal” for many years. Millions of lives will be saved. Congratulations to ALL!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2019

Pence: We have agreed to ceasefire

After the meeting, US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have held a statement for the press at the US Embassy.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Mike Pence has stated, "Turkey's Operation Peace Spring will pause for 120 hours" and added that within this period, "the US will facilitate the withdrawal of the YPG from the safe zone. And, the operation will stop after that".

Çavuşoğlu: It is not a ceasefire, but pause

Speaking shortly after Pence, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said that "pause of Turkey's operation in Syria is not a ceasefire, ceasefire can only happen between two legitimate sides".

Çavuşoğlu has stated the following in brief:

"We have got what we wanted. The US side has accepted the legitimacy of our operation.

"We [Turkey and the US] have agreed on collecting heavy weapons of YPG, destructing their positions and fortifications.

"We will pause Operation Peace Spring so that PKK/YPG leave in 120 hours, it is not a ceasefire. Ceasefire only happen between two legitimate sides.

"We will end the operation only after YPG elements leave."

Meeting started with 52-minute delay

An almost two-hour meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence in the capital Ankara ended.

The two met at the Presidential Complex at 3.42 p.m., with a 52-minute delay, and spoke for an hour and 40 minutes.

Erdoğan and Pence discussed the Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's plan to establish a "safe zone" in northern Syria and the US sanctions on Turkey, according to sources from the Presidency.

There was no official statement after their meeting but preparations reportedly began for a press conference at the Presidential Complex.

Meanwhile, Larry Kudlow, US President Donald Trump's top economic advisor, said that the could impose more sanctions on Turkey.

Following the closed-door talks between Erdoğan and Pence, a meeting between the delegations of the two countries began.

Pence arrived in Ankara earlier today leading a delegation including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (PT/VK/SD)