- Title: Turks divided over Russia agreement on Syria
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RESIDENT OF ANKARA, HARUN ERDOGAN, SAYING: "Of course, we are happy. First of all, we are happy because there will no longer be loss of lives among our soldiers and citizens. As you know we have been fighting against certain terrorist organisations since 1985 and with this agreement our border security will be maintained with a depth of 32 km. This will be good for the refugees living in our country as well because Turkey's economy has shrunk a lot recently and with this agreement the refugees in our country will return to their lands." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RESIDENT OF ANKARA, HURSIT DURGUN, SAYING: "Not only the deal with Russia but I see all deals and all meetings on this matter as inconclusive. Unfortunately, we have a waiting period ahead to find out." (Reporter asking: What do you expect? Do you believe the outcome will be good?) "I pray for a good outcome, but I can't say whether it's good or bad at the moment because I have no idea. There has been a lot of meetings and deals recently. However, I surmise that in the end Turkey and Syria will sit at the same table." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT PLAYGROUND
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 09:18
- Keywords: Syria Turkey incursion ceasefire border Russia agreement
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA003B2BHUMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Turkey's agreement with Russia to remove Kurdish YPG forces from the Syrian border has drawn varying responses from Turkish residents on Wednesday (October 23).
The Russia-Turkey agreement struck in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday (October 22) endorses the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces to the border alongside Russian troops, replacing the Americans who had patrolled the region for years with their former Kurdish allies.
It also effectively ends the Turkish military offensive that had begun on October 9, in which Turkey had hoped to clear the Syrian border area of the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organisation because of its links to insurgents inside Turkey.
One resident of Ankara said he was glad the offensive was over as it will spare the lives of both soldiers and citizens. Another man was more sceptical and said only time will tell how the outcome will be.
Some 300,000 people have been displaced by Turkey's offensive and 120 civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor. It said on Sunday 259 fighters with the Kurdish-led forces had been killed, and 196 Turkey-backed Syrian rebels. Turkey says 765 terrorists but no civilians have been killed in its offensive.
(Production: Mert Ozkan, Yesim Dikmen, Bushra Shakhshir) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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