Emphasis on ‘Peace Corridor’ in National Security Council Declaration

* Photograph: Kayhan Özer/ Presidency/ AA

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The National Security Council (MGK) convened yesterday (July 30). In the declaration released after the meeting, it has been indicated that the country will work on establishing a "peace corridor" on Turkey-Syria border.

One striking detail about the declaration is that it has made no reference to a possible "safe zone" to be formed in Syria, which has been mentioned by Turkey and the US for several times over the last three years and over which negotiations have been reportedly continuing.

'A vacuum of authority on the borderline'

The declaration has shared the following details about the "peace corridor":

"Considering the increasing threats posed to our country by the vacuum of authority on our borderline with Syria, it has been confirmed that the region will be cleared of all terror risks within the frame of our border security and our determined efforts to form a 'peace corridor' in force will continue.

"As to 'peace corridor', it is yet not certain whether it will be supported by Astana guarantors or whether it will be a line to be formed by Turkey."

It was planned to be 32 kilometers

Suggested by US President Donald Trump on January 13, 2019, the "safe zone" is expected to cover a depth of 32 kilometers and a line of 460 kilometers along the Turkey-Syria borderline.

On December 19, 2018, Trump announced that the US would withdraw its troops from Syria. In the same period, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey was preparing for an operation against the east of Euphrates.

In his tweet on January 13, Trump said that "in case Turkey strikes the Kurds in Syria, they will devastate Turkey economically", announcing that they will form a 32-kilometer safe zone in the region. (PT/SD)