Hungary to cooperate with Turkey over Syria safe zone

BUDAPEST

Hungarian foreign minister said on Tuesday his country would cooperate with Turkey over a safe zone in Syria which would enable the return of refugees.

"If Turkey establishes a safe zone in Syria to enable the return of families which had to flee Syria, Hungary will be delighted to cooperate with Turkey," Peter Szijjarto told Hungarian state media in Azerbaijan, where he is participating a summit of Turkic Council.

Referring to Turkey's Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria, Szijjarto said if Turkey solved the Syrian refugee problem inside Syria, that would be in line with Hungary's interests.

Hungary blocked EU's joint declaration over the operation, he also said previously.

"There are around four million irregular migrants and refugees in Turkey. Turkey is working to enable their return," Szijjarto has said.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist groups there, to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

* Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet in Ankara