Turkish FM: Retreating of YPG from Manbij ‘not enough’
There is no agreement with US but understanding on stabilizing Manbij, eastern side of Euphrates River, Cavusoglu says
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday said retreating of YPG/PKK terrorist group from Syria's Manbij region “will not be enough”.
He was speaking at a joint news conference with Lesotho's Foreign Minister Lesego Makgothi in the capital Ankara.
"It will not be enough for YPG to retreat from Manbij. There will be other cities after Manbij," Cavusoglu said, referring to Turkey’s possible operation in the region in near future.
When asked about the U.S.' existence in the Syrian city of Manbij and Turkey-U.S. relations, Cavusoglu said there has not been an agreement with the U.S. but "an understanding" on stabilizing Manbij and eastern side of the Euphrates River.
"If we reach consensus about roadmap with the U.S., then we can say we have an agreement. Right now, there is an understanding," Cavusoglu said.
On Feb. 16, during then U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Ankara, the two countries "reached an understanding" to normalize ties following a period of tensions regarding the current situation in Syria.
The terrorist YPG/PKK should first withdraw from Manbij, northern Syria for Turkey to take steps with the U.S. based on trust, Cavusoglu had said during the Tillerson’s visit.
