Turkish ministry dismisses 'safe zone in Syria' reports

ANKARA

Turkish Defense Ministry Friday dismissed reports about establishing a safe zone in Syria following a meeting between American and Turkish officials in Belgium.

According to a statement issued by the secretary-general's office under the ministry, "reports released in media and titled 'safe zone to be created' do not reflect the truth."

The reports came after U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik held a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels Tuesday.

Carter and Isik addressed several security issues and highlighted a "close friendship between the two ally countries during the meeting,” an earlier Pentagon statement said.