Russia does not categorically reject the idea of establishing a safe zone in northern Syria, but the details of the U.S.-proposed zone are yet to be clarified, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
“Russians have no opposition against the safe zone. We have seen this at the meeting in Moscow,” he said in an interview with Hürriyet Daily News on Jan. 30, referring to the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Jan. 23.
He recalled that following the U.S. proposal for the secure zone, Russians particularly stressed that Turkey’s worries should cease.
“What does the U.S. mean with a safe zone? What will Russia’s role here be? These are uncertain,” he said, adding that questions regarding the safe zone will be discussed in a high-level joint working group meeting on Feb. 5.
“What are we doing? We are trying to coordinate the U.S. withdrawal not only with the Americans, but also with Russians, Iranians and others. Now Iraq has stepped in. Because the developments there will directly affect Iraq,” said Çavuşoğlu.
“We are holding meetings with every actor in the field. However, the opinions and policies remain uncertain. We are still in the process of deliberation,” he added. When asked if Turkey will be the one to set up the safe zone, the minister said it has not been clarified yet and discussions are ongoing.
