Neither Russia nor US fulfilled the deals in NE Syria: Erdoğan

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 9 said that neither the United States nor Russia has managed to clear northeastern Syria of the People's Protection Units (YPG) within deadlines set as part of agreements signed with Turkey.

Erdoğan was referring to two separate deals that Turkey struck with the U.S. and Russia. On Oct. 17, Ankara and Washington agreed on a 120-hour ceasefire in Turkey's military offensive in northeastern Syria, in order to allow the YPG to withdraw from a 32-kilometers “safe zone” south of Turkey's border. On Oct. 23, on the other hand, Ankara struck a deal with Moscow for the YPG to withdraw from “safe zone” area within 150 hours.

“Idlib is getting better every day. But our essential problem is [the area] between Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain. This area is 120 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Our essential target is Derek (Al-Malikiyah), which is at the Iraqi border. We wanted from both the US. and Russia that terrorists [referring to the YPG] are removed from this whole region. We struck deals [with Washington and Moscow] and they told us that this region would be cleared within 120 and 150 hours [respectively], but neither the U.S. nor Russia could accomplish this. And we of course said that we would take matters into our own hands,” Erdoğan told state-broadcaster TRT Haber.

Turkey says it aims to establish a “safe zone” in northeastern Syria, after clearing the region of the YPG. It says its incursion into Syrian territory on Oct. 9 draws from its goals of establishing this buffer zone along its borders. 

Ankara considers the YPG as a terrorist organization due to it being the Syrian arm of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

Turkey had previously said it could settle up to two million Syrian refugees in this 444-km-long "safe zone" and repeatedly urged NATO allies to provide financial aid for the plans.

The “safe zone” project also includes the area between the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad, which Turkey’s operation focuses on. "The Turkish nation can carry out an exemplary step between Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad," Erdoğan said in his interview, holding up a map of the region with markings on it. "Settling one million people between Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain, that is our aim in the safe zone, that is our plan."

“We say that with steps that we will take in these areas, let's save these people [refugees] from tents and just like in Jerablus, get them return to their own lands,” Erdoğan said.

Last week, Erdoğan met his German, French and British counterparts on the sidelines of a NATO summit in London to hold talks on developments in Syria and Turkey's "safe zone" plan.

After the summit, Erdoğan said one country, which he did not name, had pledged support for the plan but that Germany, France and Britain had not done so. He had previously said that Qatar could back it.

'We will not give up on S-400'

Erdoğan in his interview also touched upon Turkey's purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia. “We cannot give up on this. This page is closed for us. We want to diversify our air defense systems. No one should be disturbed about this and also NATO secretary-general [Jens Stoltenberg] has expressed this,” he said.

Erdoğan also touched upon French President Emmanuel Macron's criticism of Turkey regarding this issue, saying: “Macron said, 'How can a NATO member buy S-400?' Will I ask you? Until now, they have not seen leaders who stand upright in front of them.”

Turkey's decision to buy and begin testing the S-400 Russian missile system has been widely criticized in the West. Macron had previously said: “How is it possible for Turkey to be a NATO member and at the same time buy S-400 from Russia? Technically it is not possible.”

Turkey and Libya 'can conduct joint explorations in eastern Med'

Erdoğan also touched upon a recent maritime territory agreement that Turkey struck with Libya, saying the the two countries can carry out joint exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

Libya's internationally recognized government and Turkey clinched the natural gas drilling accord last month in a step Ankara said aimed to defend its rights in the region, but that has infuriated Greece.

Tensions were already running high between Greece and Turkey because of Turkish gas explorations in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of the divided island of Cyprus. The European Union has readied sanctions against Turkey in response.

Erdoğan said the accord would also allow Turkey to carry out drilling on Libya's continental shelf with Tripoli's approval, and that the deal was in line with international law.

The area where Turkey and Libya have drawn their maritime borders in the accord is not far south of the large Greek island of Crete.

"With this new agreement between Turkey and Libya, we can hold joint exploration operations in these exclusive economic zones that we determined. There is no problem," Erdoğan said.

"Other international actors cannot carry out exploration operations in these areas Turkey drew (up) with this accord without getting permission. Greek Cyprus, Egypt, Greece and Israel cannot establish a gas transmission line without first getting permission from Turkey," he said.

Aside from the maritime accord, Turkey and Libya also signed an expanded security and military cooperation agreement.

Erdoğan said the military accord granted Turkey the right to deploy troops in Libya if the Tripoli government so asked, and added this would not violate a United Nations arms embargo on Libya, which is plagued by factional conflict.

"In the event of such a call coming, it is Turkey's decision what kind of initiative it will take here. We will not seek the permission of anyone on this," he said.