Erdoğan still pursuing no-fly zone in northern Syria

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has again voiced his desire to create a no-fly zone and establish a train-and-equip program for Syrian rebels while floating the idea of building settlements for Syrian refugees in line with their “national architectural style.”

“A no-fly zone, terror-free zone and train-and-equip [program] – steps are needed on these issues. Now our relevant departments are carrying out work. Timing is another issue, but the process is under control. This step will be taken, some areas have especially been earmarked,” Erdoğan said in an interview aired on ATV and A Haber channels late on Nov. 18.

New housing that is in harmony with local architecture should be built in the area where Syrian refugees are located, the president said.

A no-fly zone will protect them, while Syrian opposition forces will have the power to conduct a ground operation in the prospective area, he said.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a threat to Turkey, Erdoğan also said in reply to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who suggested an operation with Turkey against the jihadist group.

“We’ll take a step with coalition forces,” he said.

Turkey has long pushed for a safe zone to protect civilians from Syrian airstrikes, but the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has repeatedly rejected the idea as too difficult to implement.
  hurriyetdailynews.com
  19/11/15
--------

• The United States wants to work with other countries to provide additional weaponry to Syrian opposition forces battling Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said on Thursday.

Rhodes also told reporters at an Asia-Pacific summit in Manila that Washington was seeking a very specific commitment from Turkey to secure its border with Syria.
 todayszaman.com
19/11/15 ---
-
Related:

• Kerry: US, Turkey working to finish shutting northern Syria border

• Turkey Says ’Has Plans’ for Joint US Operation against ISIL

• Putin says even some G20 member states finance ISIL/ISIS

• US general say America should consider no-fly zone in ISIS fight

----
 Related:

• Allies warming to no-fly zone in Syria (Erdoğan) 

• No Decision Made By Turkey on Anti-ISIL Ground Operation in Syria 

• Iran calls proposal of no-fly zone in Syria a 'mistake'

• Washington dubs Syria no-fly zone plans as ‘pre-mature’

• Turkey, U.S. make progress on Syria no-fly zone issue (the number of countries supporting the creation of a no-fly zone was rising: FM Çavuşoğlu)

 ---

Related:

• Les 12 premiers avions-chasseurs américains F15C Eagle sont arrivés à la base d'Incirlik après qu'un avion russe ait, pendant quelques secondes, violé l'espace aérien turc... 

• Eight Turkish jets violate Greek air space