Turkey renewed its refusal of the deployment of other countries' troops in the security zone which will be established in northern Syria, saying it is the only country entitled to control and manage this region as long as it is located on its borders.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country refuses to allow any foreign forces other than Turkey to manage the security zone. He indicated the region is located opposite of the country’s southern border, so it must be run by Turkey, but “we will continue to work with Russia, especially its security and military services.”
Media outlets reported Cavusoglu’s statement in which he announced that Ankara continues to coordinate with Russia, United States, and Iran for establishing a security zone north of Syria. He also noted that the area of the security zone is not determined yet.
In the same context, Cavusoglu announced in a press conference Tuesday that a US delegation will visit Turkey to discuss the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.
Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal visited Washington two weeks ago for the same purpose and the Defense Minister Hulusi Akar arrived in Washington together with Chief of General Staff Yasar Guler to discuss Syria and other issues with their US counterparts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was cited as saying that Russian military police could be deployed in a proposed “buffer zone” along Syria’s northern border with Turkey.
“We have experience in combining ceasefire agreements, safety measures and the creation of de-escalation zones with the roll-out of Russian military police,” Lavrov stated.
“Such a possibility is being kept open for this buffer zone.”
Lavrov indicated that the format of the zone was being finalised by military leaders, and that any decision would take the interests of Damascus and Ankara into account as far as possible.
“We're working on it. We haven't decided yet on its size. We're working with Russia, with the US, and with Astana partners. Our technical teams met several times. We appreciate that Russia understands Turkey's security concerns, as partner and ally. So we are working on it,” responded Cavusoglu.
Lavrov spoke of a “buffer zone” while Ankara referred to as a “security zone” to accommodate the refugees in accordance with US President Donald Trump's proposal to establish a safe area in northeastern Syria.
Observers believe the fate of this region whether “safe or buffer” depends on agreements and understandings between influential parties, first and foremost the Syrian regime and its allies.
In the same context, a senior Pentagon official said that part of the US troops will remain in Manbij in the northern countryside of Aleppo, where the soldiers will continue to patrol jointly with their Turkish counterparts.
The Wall Street Journal quoted the official as saying that the second group will settle east of the Euphrates River as part of a “security zone” between Turkey and Syria, and will help train and advise local fighters so that they can secure the areas restored from the terrorist organization.
In other news, media reports revealed the Turkish army plans to set six new observation points in eastern countryside Idlib, along the 12 main points already established according to the Astana agreement on the de-escalation zone Idlib.
Idlib Media Center reported that the new points will be deployed in Tell Tuqan and Tell Sultan west of Abu al-Duhur on the road between Sarqib and Abu al-Duhur towns.
Turkish forces surveyed the area on Tuesday and the army will begin preparing the areas to establish the points.
The move coincides with the escalation of artillery and missile attacks by Assad regime forces on the towns within the demilitarized zone agreed between Russia and Turkey in Sochi in September last year.
