Turkey to stand by Manbij roadmap regardless of US

By Zuhal Demirci

ANKARA

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday said that Turkey will return to its previous line on Manbij if it sees "any neglect from the U.S." on the roadmap agreed upon by the two countries.

The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of Aleppo province in northern Syria.

After a joint press conference with Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Kudret Ozersay in Ankara, Cavusoglu responded to the questions of journalists on Turkey's Manbij roadmap.

"If we have the feeling of any neglect from the U.S. on the Manbij issue we will return to our previous line. Either you clear or we will clear it [from the YPG/PKK terrorists]," 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 death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.