"If Turkey cannot find a middle ground with the US, then it will have to establish a safe zone in Syria by itself," Aksoy said.
Disagreements over the scope of a safe zone in northeastern Syria and other issues are preventing its implementation, US President Donald Trump's envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition said Thursday.
“The Turks want a deeper zone than the one that we think makes sense," James Jeffrey told reporters at the State Department, noting Washington proposed an area of some 5-14 kilometers along the Syrian border with heavy weapons pulled further back.
He further cited unspecified "differences of opinion" over how the US and Turkey "would operate in that zone".
"We think that this is a deal we can sell to the people of northeast Syria. That's very important," he said.
Jeffrey added that the US is mindful of Turkish security concerns with regards to the "PKK and offshoots of the PKK" but is "equally" committed to protecting the main US partner in northeast Syria from coming under attack.
"We are committed to those who have fought with us not being attacked and not being harmed by anyone," Jeffrey said. "That includes our concerns about the Turks."
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had also told his American counterpart last week that Turkey would have to form a safe zone in northern Syria by itself if it cannot come to an agreement with the US
"If Turkey and the US do not find common ground, Ankara will be obliged to create a safe zone on its own," Akar said.
Based on DS, AA
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