Joint statement
A joint statement outlining Thursday’s agreement, outlined in 13 points, starts by reaffirming the strong alliance between Washington and Ankara.
“The US and Turkey reaffirm their relationship as fellow members of NATO,” it reads. “The US understands Turkey’s legitimate security concerns on Turkey’s southern border.”
The pact also says that the US and Turkey will coordinate on anti-Islamic State efforts, including maintaining the security of detention facilities that house IS militants.
‘The US understands Turkey’s legitimate security concerns on Turkey’s southern border’
– Joint US-Turkish statement
“The two countries reiterate their pledge to uphold human life, human rights, and the protection of religious and ethnic communities,” it says.
The document states that Turkey has agreed to exercise “maximum care” to protect civilians in the safe zone.
“The two sides agreed on the continued importance and functionality of a safe zone in order to address the national security concerns of Turkey, to include the re-collection of YPG heavy weapons and the disablement of their fortifications and all other fighting positions,” it says.