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

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – 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.</p> <p>&quot;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,&quot; Mustafa Destici, leader of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), told reporters in parliament.</p> <p>&quot;For this reason, Turkey should form a safe zone in the region using its own security forces.&quot;</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Destici decried that U.S.-connected terrorist threat, saying: &quot;The U.S. boosts its cooperation with the PKK-affiliated YPG/PKK every day, which is a severe threat to Turkey.&quot;</p> <p>Destici also called on the government to not postpone a possible operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria against the terrorist YPG/PKK.</p> <p>&quot;Both in northern Syria and Iraq, operations against terror groups should start, and these regions should be rescued from terrorists,&quot; he added.</p> <p>Turkey has promised a counter-terrorist operation east of the Euphrates in northern Syria, following two similar successful operations since 2016.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>