Erdogan pledges ‘safe zone’ in Syria as new U.N. special envoy arrives

17 January, 2019
Erdogan pledges ‘safe zone’ in Syria as new U.N. special envoy arrives
Turkey’s president said Tuesday that his troops will establish a 32-kilometer-wide “safe zone” in northern Syria, adding that Turkey would seek logistic and financial assistance from the United States and other allies to create the zone.

The announcement by Recep Tayyip Erdogan came as the United Nations’ new special envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus, his first visit to the war-torn country since he took over in January.

Erdogan told his ruling party legislators in Parliament that the zone would keep “terrorists out,” protect civilians and stem the flow of refugees. He and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the issue in a telephone call late Monday that apparently aimed to ease tensions after the U.S. president tweeted a threat to Turkey warning of economic harm should Turkey attack U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.

Ankara considers the Kurdish forces in Syria terrorists aligned with a Kurdish insurgency within Turkey’s own borders.

Erdogan said the two leaders reached an “understanding of historical importance.”

“If the coalition forces and the United States especially, if they give us logistical and financial support with the condition of protecting the people’s safety there, we would accomplish such a safe zone,” he said.

Erdogan suggested the zone could be extended farther than 32 kilometers.

“This is an issue that our friends can discuss and assess and which I look positively upon,” he said.

A senior Kurdish official said the so-called safe zone would be tantamount to Turkish occupation, but with a new cover.

“The [Kurdish] self-rule democratic administration in north and eastern Syria rejects such plots under the guise of safe zones because it constitutes a new kind of assault and a threat to these areas,” he said.

In Damascus, Geir Pedersen, the new U.N. special envoy for Syria, said he hopes to have productive talks with Syrian officials. He spoke briefly to reporters upon his arrival at the capital, before heading to a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.

The veteran Norwegian diplomat took over from Staffan de Mistura, who stepped down for family reasons after four years and four months of peace efforts that led nowhere.
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