The agreement between Turkey and the U.S. on a planned safe zone in northern Syria can help to de-escalate the situation in the region, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Oct. 18, Hurriyet daily news reported.
Speaking at a joint news conference with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Stoltenberg said: "The situation in northeast Syria is fragile and difficult. I believe that this statement can help to de-escalate the situation and therefore help to improve the situation on the ground."
On Oct. 17., Turkey and the U.S. came to an agreement to pause Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria.
Visiting Turkey last week, the NATO chief had said Turkey is at the forefront of "very volatile region", no other allies have suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey and the country host millions of refugees.
For his part, Pompeo said: “There was some activity today on implementing the agreement between Turkey and the U.S., adding very “intensive coordination” is required to withdraw YPG/PKK from the planned safe zone.
Recalling that some European countries have announced that they will take back foreign fighters affiliated with Daesh terror group, the U.S. state secretary said, he was happy with that but he was also “disappointed with the delays”.
