Turkish, US officials agree on Syria safe-zone

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish and U.S. military officials have agreed that the safe-zone in northern Syria will be a "peace corridor" for displaced Syrians longing to return home, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The officials finalized key points of the safe-zone at a meeting in Ankara, the ministry said in a statement.

The 30- to 40-kilometers (18- to 25-miles) wide safe-zone will be controlled by Turkey in coordination with the U.S.

The PKK/YPG terrorists inside the safe-zone will be cleared and forced to surrender heavy weapons in their possession, the ministry added.

Also, all tunnels, positions and fortifications built by the PKK/YPG inside the safe-zone will be destroyed.

"During the talks, the immediate implementation of measures to address Turkey's security concern was discussed in detail," the ministry said.

"In that respect, as the first step in the establishment of a safe-zone, it was planned that a Joint Operations Center in Turkey will be established soon for coordination and control with the U.S.," the ministry added.

YPG/PKK is the Syrian offshoot of terror group PKK, which has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people in Turkey, including many children, women, and infants, for more than 30 years.

Turkey has often raised concerns over U.S. support of factions of the PKK against Daesh in the region, saying one terror outfit cannot be used against another.