Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has questioned the withdrawal of all YPG elements from the safe area in northern Syria and called on Russia to pressure the Syrian regime to stop its strikes.
"We are able to monitor developments in these areas closely, and we are doing this in coordination with Russia, and we also continue to work to verify that the YPG has left the region and that the terrorists have withdrawn from it," Akar said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
He pointed out that there are some challenges during the implementation of joint patrols, but he was optimistic to overcome them through coordination with the Russians, and expressed his belief that the patrols will succeed more in the coming days.
Akar said that despite some earlier oral and written statements from the Russians that the "terrorists" had completely evacuated those areas, some of them are still there.
The Turkish defense minister also urged Moscow to exert its influence to force the Syrian regime to stop its air and ground strikes.
He stressed during the interview, which will be broadcast on Sunday at seven and five minutes at night Mecca time, that his country seeks to achieve peace and enable the Syrians to return to their country in a safe and voluntary.
`` When we build a safe area near our southern border east of the Euphrates at a depth of 30 kilometers, it will be a settlement zone and an opportunity to start a new lifestyle, '' Akar said.