Turkish President Hints At Possible Use Of Turkish Troops In Syria

Turkey's President Recep Erdogan said Turkish troops could be used for setting up a buffer zone in Syria, if there was an international agreement for the establishing of a safe haven for those feeling the Islamic State (IS), reports Reuters.

"The logic that assumes Turkey would not be involved in a military operation, is wrong," Erdogan said in an interview with the Hurriyet newspaper on his way back from New York, where he attended the UN General Assembly meetings.

Erdogan said negotiations are underway to determine how and by which countries the air strikes and a potential ground operation would be undertaken and that Turkey is ready to take part. “Whatever is Turkey's role, Turkey will play it," he said.

According to Erdogan, however, the air strikes against the IS were not enough and a ground operation was also necessary. “You can't finish off such a terrorist organisation only with airstrikes,” Erdogan said.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Ambassador to Bulgaria Suleyman Gokce told the Bulgarian National Radio that Turkey would demand a buffer zone in Syria, where safe haven areas would be set up. “There might be a military operation necessary for the setting up of those zones,” Gokce said. “This is a theme that also affects Bulgaria. If this would be possible is up to a decision of the UN Security Council.”