Terrorists withdraw from safe zone area: Erdogan

ANKARA

Russia informed Turkish authorities that terrorists withdrew from northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"The 120-hour agreement with the U.S. and the 150-hour agreement with Russia, that we made ended. We will have talks tomorrow," Erdogan said at the Republic Day reception in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Erdogan said that, apart from Turkey, everyone who is interested in Syria has primary goal of controlling oil resources.

"A primitive understanding that considers a drop of oil more valuable than a drop of blood, is blatantly obvious," he said.

He went on to say that, Turkey is the only country that prioritizes only people rather than opportunities of oil and power, when looking at Syria.

"Turkey has shown what it can do with its own means and without getting permission, when it comes to national security and historical responsibilities,” he said, adding that Turkey's operation has shown once again that the efforts to weaken Turkey are futile.

Referring to the terror attacks on Turkey, Erdogan said if these attacks can not be successful despite the huge support [from certain external powers], it is due to the strong and determined stance of the Turkish nation.

“We have rights in these lands, seas. We have no business where we have no rights,” Erdogan also mentioned, referring to the Eastern Mediterranean issue.

Erdogan highlighted that there has been no regret for those who stood with Turkey in the past, and no one, who has been hostile to Turkey, got better, throughout history.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.

Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours, and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct joint patrols there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.