Turkey, Russia discuss implementing Syria deal on ground

By Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish and Russian military delegations discussed the implementation of the Sochi agreement on Syria on the ground, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Turkish and Russian military delegations discussed tactical and technical aspects of the implementation of the agreement in field,” the ministry said in a statement.

The mutual negotiations -- held between Oct. 28-30 in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, to plan the military activities under the Oct. 22 Sochi deal -- completed, according to the ministry.

Describing the negotiations “positive and constructive,” the ministry said, “the coordination will continue,” it added.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Oct. 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.

Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct joint patrols there.

The 150-hour period ended on Tuesday.

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. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.