'Don't do safe zone with US,' says Turkish party leader

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

Turkey should not work with the U.S. to form a safe zone in northern Syria, as doing so would benefit terrorists, warned the leader of a Turkish opposition party on Friday.

"Today, if we form a safe zone with the U.S., have no doubt that we’re forming a safe zone for the terrorists in northern Syria," Mustafa Destici, leader of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), told reporters in parliament.

"For this reason, Turkey should form a safe zone in the region using its own security forces."

Turkey has long objected to U.S. support for the terrorist YPG/PKK -- ostensibly meant to fight terrorist Daesh -- saying that using one terror group to fight another makes no sense.

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

Destici decried that U.S.-connected terrorist threat, saying: "The U.S. boosts its cooperation with the PKK-affiliated YPG/PKK every day, which is a severe threat to Turkey."

Destici also called on the government to not postpone a possible operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria against the terrorist YPG/PKK.

"Both in northern Syria and Iraq, operations against terror groups should start, and these regions should be rescued from terrorists," he added.

Turkey has promised a counter-terrorist operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria, following two similar successful operations since 2016.

Turkey’s Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria liberated the region from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, making it possible for Syrians who fled the violence there to return home.