President Trump lifts sanctions on Turkey over Syria
23 October 2019, 17:56
President Trump has announced that sanctions placed on Turkey are being lifted after its ceasefire in the offensive against Syrian Kurds.
The decision has come after Russia and Turkey agreed to extend a ceasefire along the Syrian border.
The President spoke of the need to withdraw from what he called the "bloodstained land" and that it was time for someone else to "take up the fight.'
He said that despite other countries helping the US, he now wanted "other nations to finally get involved."
He also boasted that the US have defeated Isis "100 percent."
Taking to Twitter before the press conference, Donald Trump said: "Big success on the Turkey/Syria border. Safe zone created!
"Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured."
Big success on the Turkey/Syria Border. Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended. Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured. I will be making a statement at 11:00 A.M. from the White House. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2019
Speaking about the withdrawal of US troops, Mr Trump said: "Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand."
The sanctions will be lifted unless something happens that we're not happy with," he announced in a statement at the White House press conference.
Turkey's offensive in the region began after President Trump's unexpected decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria earlier this month.
He said Turkey had assured him that it would cease fighting in the region and would make the current ceasefire permanent.
The US sanctions were imposed last week in response to Turkey's recent offensive against Kurdish fighters, whom it regards as terrorists.
Trump also said: "The pain and suffering of the three-day fight that occurred was directly responsible for our ability to make an agreement with Turkey and the Kurds that could never have been made without this short-term outburst."
He continued: “We were supposed to be there for 30 days, that was almost 10 years ago.“We were there for 30 days and now we’re leaving.“It was supposed to be a quick hit and let’s get out.“It was a quick hit except they stayed for almost 10 years.”
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