Putin Supports Security Zone Along the Turkish-Syrian Border

Aug. 28, 2019 (EIRNS)—During the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Russia on Aug. 27, the Russian President in effect endorsed Turkey’s planned “security zone” on the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border. Speaking at a press conference after their meeting, Putin said:

“We understand Turkey’s concern related to ensuring the security of its southern borders, and we think that these are lawful interests of the Republic of Turkey. To our mind, the creation of a security zone on the southern border of the Republic of Turkey will serve as a good precondition for maintaining territorial integrity of Syria itself,”

the Russian President stressed, declaring that Moscow supports de-escalation activity in the area, TASS reported yesterday.

“By the way, stabilizing the situation on the territory of Syria leads to many people returning home: over 300,000 refugees have arrived from abroad, and 1 million internally displaced people have returned home,” he said.

On the occasion of Erdogan’s visit, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos offered to send a Turkish astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). “We have a joint offer to you—to send a Turkish astronaut to the orbit to celebrate the Republic’s anniversary. The Cosmonaut Training Center is ready to work on this,” Roscosmos Director Dmitry Rogozin said, referring to the centennial of the Turkish Republic to be celebrated on Oct. 29, 2023.