ANKARA, November 24. /TASS/. Turkey will continue to avert terrorist threats to the country that emanate from northern Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu as they spoke by phone on Thursday, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.

"We will continue to eliminate the terrorist threats to our country that emanate from the territory of Syria," the ministry said in a statement following the talks.

Akar said Turkey "will continue to give an appropriate response to the growing attacks that are aimed at destabilizing the situation in the region and the actions that are directed against peaceful territories and citizens."

"Our top priority is to eliminate terrorist threats and the corridor, as well as neutralize the terrorist organization," the Turkish minister said, referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which is banned in Turkey.

He also supported the implementation of the agreements that had been previously reached with respect to Syria.