Defense ministry dismisses 'Syria safe zone' claims
Defense Minister Fikri Iu015fu0131k (2ndR) speaks with US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (3rdL) during a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 14, 2016 (AFP Photo)


The Defense Ministry on Friday dismissed reports about establishing a safe zone in Syria following a meeting between American and Turkish officials in Belgium.

According to a statement issued by the secretary-general's office under the ministry, "reports released in media and titled 'safe zone to be created' do not reflect the truth."

The reports came after U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Işık held a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels Tuesday.

Carter and Işık addressed several security issues and highlighted a "close friendship between the two ally countries during the meeting," an earlier Pentagon statement said.