Turkey

Erdogan rules out UN involvement in setting up safe zone in Syria

ANKARA, January 25. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled out the possibility of UN involvement in efforts to create a safe zone in northern Syria.

"Looking at numerous examples, we see that the UN is unable to do anything when it comes to setting up a safe zone. Turkey is the only force that can do that," the Turkish leader said on Friday in the city of Erzurum. His speech was broadcast by the NTV television channel.

Erdogan 'shocked' by Trump backing Venezuelan opposition leader

ANKARA, January 24. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he was shocked by the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.

"I was shocked by Trump's attitude [to the situation in Venezuela]. It is necessary to respect the person who won the election. We are coming out against any anti-democratic actions," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara after talks with Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

Turkey not to allow Syria safe zone turned into "swamp"

ANKARA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will never allow that the implementation of a safe zone in Syria be turned into "swamp" like in northern Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erodgan said the planning 32-km safe zone in northern Syria must not be another new ground against Turkey, adding that its aim should be keeping terrorist organizations away from Turkey's border.

Manbij op to start at right time: Turkish defense chief

HATAY, Turkey; 21 Jan 2019; AA: Turkey’s counter-terrorist operation in Manbij, Syria will start at the right time, Turkey’s defense minister said on Sunday.

“The current Syrian problem areas are Manbij and east of the Euphrates; our plans, preparations and logistics are completed.

"The operations in Manbij and east of the Euphrates will start when the right time comes,” said Hulusi Akar in Hatay, southern Turkey, marking the first anniversary of the start of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch.

Turkey to set up safe zone in northern Syria: Erdogan

ANKARA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that his country will set up a 32-km safe zone in northern Syria, following a consensus with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During a speech to the lawmakers of his ruling Justice and Development Party in the parliament, Erdogan said that he held a "quite positive" phone conversation with Trump late Monday, discussing the possibility of creating a safe zone in northern Syria.

US and Turkish presidents talk over fate of Kurdish fighters

15 Jan 2019; DW: The US and Turkish presidents moved from Twitter to the telephone to exchange their views over the US-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria. Washington is insisting the anti-"Islamic State" fighters should not be harmed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, took to the telephone to discuss the situation in northern Syria on Monday.

Turkish army conducts tank exercises on border with Syria’s Idlib

ANKARA, January 12. /TASS/. The Turkish Armed Forces have conducted a military exercise in the Hatay province bordering the Syrian region of Idlib, the Turkish news agency Anadolu said on Saturday.

Turkish military detachments have been deployed to reinforce the border area in Hatay’s Yayladagi region. Later, tank exercises were held in that area.

Turkey is sending more armored vehicles to the border with Syria, the agency added.

Turkey closely cooperating with Russia to implement accords in Syria’s Idlib

ANKARA, January 12. /TASS/. Turkey continues to cooperate closely with Russia to implement the agreements on the Syrian province of Idlib reached by the presidents of both countries in September last year, Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday.

The Turkish defense minister made this statement after a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Yasar Guler, Head of the National Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan and Land Forces Commander Umit Dundar. The meeting of the Turkish top brass was held on the border with Syria.

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