- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Syrian Safe Zone Option Becoming Increasingly ‘Acceptable’ - Turkish Minister

© Sputnik / Maksim Blinov / Go to the mediabankSituation in Syria
Situation in Syria - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Turkish proposal to establish a safe zone or no-fly zone in Syria is an option that is becoming more popular, Turkey's Minister of European Union Affairs Volkan Bozkir told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Daesh jihadist group.

Syrian government soldiers walk in the damaged al-Farafira souk in the government-held side of Aleppo's historic city centre on September 16, 2016 - Sputnik International
Breakdown of US-Russia Syria Talks to Make Solution 'Very Difficult'

"Turkey has always said, let’s have a secure zone there [in Syria] with no-fly zone support," Bozkir said on Friday. "Now we are seeing some signs that this no-fly zone, secure zone [idea] is being thought more acceptable, so I hope it goes on."

Bozkir cited the recent liberation of the Syrian-Turkish border town of Jarabulus from Daesh forces as an example of a safe area that can be "enlarged." The Turkish politician further noted that a broader safe zone in Syria could house refugees seeking to return to their country.

French Senate votes to ease sanctions against Russia - Sputnik International
Additional Sanctions on Russia ‘Valid Option’ if Syria Diplomacy Fails
"If we can have even a small secure zone where we can build small towns with hospitals, schools and living facilities, then these people, from Turkey or from Europe or from other parts of Syria, may seek for safe haven there," Bozkir said. "That picture will be a very important element to build a new Syria."

The United Nations has registered more than 4.8 million Syrian refugees, with more than 2.7 million currently residing in Turkey.

Earlier in September, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed the creation of a Syrian no-fly zone to both Russia and the United States, according to Turkish media reports. Both US and Russian officials have previously expressed skepticism toward Turkey’s no-fly zone or safe zone proposal.

On Thursday, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US administration was reconsidering its options for handling the Syria crisis, as talks with Russia on a ceasefire and political transition are on the verge of collapse.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала