The U.S. is trying to stall the implementation of the safe zone in northern Syria, Turkey's foreign minister said Tuesday, adding that its approach is "unsatisfactory."
"The U.S. is only taking cosmetic steps as part of the safe zone agreement," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told reporters at a news conference in Ankara.
On Aug. 7, Turkish and U.S. military officials agreed to set up a safe zone in northern Syria and develop a peace corridor to facilitate the movement of displaced Syrians who want to return home. They also agreed to establish a joint operations center.
The agreement also envisaged setting up necessary security measures to address Turkey's security concerns, including clearing the zone of the terrorist YPG/PKK, a group the U.S. has sometimes been allied with, over Turkey’s objections.
"The U.S. did not keep its promise in northern Syria due to its engagement with PKK/YPG terror group," Çavuşoğlu added.
"As the President [Erdoğan] said, it is far from satisfactory, and furthermore they are displaying an attitude that is pro-PKK."
