Turkey: Safe zone should be cleared of terrorist PKK/YPG

By Ayhan Simsek </p> <p>MUNICH (AA) – A safe zone in northern Syria should be patrolled by the Turkish forces and be cleared of the terrorist PKK/YPG group, Turkey's defense minister said on Saturday. </p> <p>Hulusi Akar held separate meetings with acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, U.S. special envoy to Syria James Jeffrey and a group of U.S. senators on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. </p> <p>The minister raised Turkey’s expectations from the U.S. and underlined that the terrorist PKK/YPG activities in northern Syria has been the biggest hurdle in a better U.S.-Turkey relationship.</p> <p>“PKK terrorists do not represent our Kurdish brothers. There is no difference between the PKK and the YPG,” Akar told senior U.S. officials during his meetings. </p> <p>The Turkish minister underlined that clearing Turkey-Syria border area from the PKK and its Syrian branch YPG has been a top priority for Ankara, in order to ensure the security of Turkish people. </p> <p>“A 440-kilometres long (273-mile) safe zone in east of Euphrates should be cleared of the terrorist YPG group and should be patrolled by the Turkish forces,” he stressed. </p> <p>Akar also underlined that Turkey would never allow a terrorist state or terror corridor at its southern border.</p> <p>The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.

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