Erdogan, Trump discuss Syria ‘safe zone’ in phone call; to meet next month: Ankara

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the planned “safe zone” east of the Euphrates River in Syria in a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said, adding the two men agreed to meet in Washington next month.

The call came a day after Erdogan said a military incursion into northeastern Syria was imminent, after Ankara accused Washington of stalling efforts to establish a “safe zone” there together.

During the phone call, Erdogan expressed his frustration with the failure of U.S. military and security officials to implement the agreement between the two countries, the presidency said.

Erdogan also reiterated the necessity of the safe zone to eliminate the threats from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization, and to create the conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees, it said.

The agreement to meet in Washington next month was taken on Trump’s invitation, the presidency said.

The White House declined comment.

Kurgen

Article URL : https://news.yahoo.com/erdogan-trump-discuss-syria-safe-200704930.html