'Turkey wants to control safe zone in northern Syria'

ANKARA

Turkey would like to establish the safe zone in northern Syria together with its allies, and under its control but it would not step back if there is a stalling threatening its security, according to the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman on Monday.

“Turkey, of course, wants to establish the safe zone in coordination with the allies, under Turkey’s control,” Omer Celik told reporters while AK Party's Central Executive Committee meeting was ongoing at party headquarters.

“But if the stalling processes we experienced in the past would repeat in this matter, it is clearly told that Turkey is making necessary preparations in terms of its security needs,” Celik added.

He noted that the PYD-YPG terrorists needed to be eliminated from the region so that Syrians who fled their country could return home.

Celik said if the process goes as desired and under Turkey’s control, it would show that, as the allies, we have achieved a positive thing regarding Syria’s unity.

Turkish and U.S. military officials reached an agreement on Aug. 7 that the safe zone in northern Syria will serve as a "peace corridor" for displaced Syrians longing to return home and a Joint Operations Center in Turkey will be set up to coordinate its establishment.

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Istanbul that Turkey will apply its own plan of action, if Turkish soldiers are not allowed to control the safe zone in Syria.

In three weeks, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, Turkey will use the last possibility to find a compromise with the U.S. on building a safe zone along eastern Euphrates line, he said.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
 The terrorist YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.