World powers have not yet ruled out Turkey’s idea for a “safe zone” in Syria but they have not shown a clear will to implement the plan either. Turkey has for several years called on the international community to help establishing a safe zone, aimed at protecting civilians in Syria.
Another reason behind Ankara’s call is a vital-interest to clear its border of Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters and of stemming a wave of migration that has caused tensions with Europe.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this week that he repeated Turkey’s proposal at a meeting of G20 leaders in China, but the Turkish leader’s spokesman said that even though world powers did not object to the Turkish plan, there was “no common will” to establish it.
“This is a subject that our President has talked about for almost two years now, to solve the migrant crisis and to fight against terrorism. We suggest the formation of a safe zone here (in Northern Syria). Both the opposition and migrants can stay in there so it will be cleansed from terrorists, foreign fighters and people illegally crossing the border. But unfortunately, we don’t see any second actor who takes responsibility,” said Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish Presidential Spokesman.
Western allies of Turkey so far balked at the idea, asserting it would require a significant ground force and aerial support to assure a “no-fly zone”, a major commitment in a country that has seen more than half a million people killed and some 11 million people misplaced.