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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed reporters after the Friday prayer today (October 18).
Regarding the US-Turkey agreement on northern Syria, President Erdoğan said, "From this moment on, a 120-hour process is running. One aspect of our agreement is that our security forces will not leave the area."
CLICK - US and Turkey Agree, Operation Paused for 120 Hours
Indicating that the process in question continues with phone diplomacy, Erdoğan informed that they are making phone calls with US President Donald Trump, President of Russia Vladimir Putin as well as other officials from several European countries.
"About yesterday's meeting... The day before, I had a phone call with Dear Trump and after this call, we said 'If you can send a delegation here, we can take this a step further'," Erdoğan said, indicating that Trump sent the US delegation to Ankara in response to this suggestion.
Indicating that they shared the joint statement of the US and Turkey with the public, Erdoğan made the following remarks in brief:
'32-kilometer depth, 444-kilometer length'
"From this moment on, a 120-process is running. Within this 120-hour process, the YPG, the terrorist organization that you know, will leave the area, especially the region that we have designated as a safe zone. Dear Trump announced that it would cover a 20-mile depth. Rumour has it that it will cover 22 miles, but we have already announced it as 32 kilometers.
"Apart from that, in terms of its length, it will cover 444 kilometers from the west to the east. In our meeting yesterday, we agreed that this area would be evacuated in 120 hours. We were also promised that this process will be mostly led by Turkey and undertaken in solidarity.
"But, we will constantly be in touch, the meetings of our delegations will continue. And If we can draw this 120 hours to an end with success... As you know, I will meet with President Putin on Tuesday. I consider this meeting to be a separate element of this process. With these meetings, with Peace Spring, if god permits, we will bring peace to the region."
'Speculation, disinformation...'
In response to a question by a journalist regarding the initial reports coming from the region, Erdoğan said, "I, of course, met my Minister of National Defense about this issue. He also told me that it [withdrawal] has started. One aspect of our agreement is that our forces that are currently there will not leave the area. Our [forces] will keep on staying there to see whether this terrorist organization is leaving the area or not."
Erdoğan also responded to the allegations that clashes continue in Ras al-Ain province despite the US-Turkey agreement. "I do not know where you get the news, but my Minister of National Defense has informed me that there is no such clash there", Erdoğan said and referred to these news as "speculation and disinformation".
'We don't keep the letter on agenda out of our love and respect'
Having addressed the reporters after Friday prayer, President Erdoğan also met international media representatives in İstanbul.
In his speech there, Erdoğan also talked about Trump's letter to him. "We would like you to know that the necessary will be done when the time comes", Erdoğan said and made the following remarks about the letter:
"Just on the day when this meeting was held, the letter of President Trump that does not have anything to do with political or diplomatic courtesy was reported in the press. We, of course, did not forget it.
"It is not right for us to forget it, but our mutual love and respect do not allow us to constantly keep it on the agenda. We do not regard it as our issue or priority today. We would also like you to know that the necessary will be done when the time comes." (AÖ/SD)