UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH, US OFFICIALS; REVISES HEADLINE
By Seda Sevencan and Serdar Dincel
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed efforts to stabilize Syria and combat terrorism in high-level talks.
Speaking alongside Blinken after their meeting in the capital Ankara, Fidan said: “In the new situation in Syria, we discussed what can be done for the welfare of the Syrian people, the country's unity, integrity, cohesion, and sovereignty. We also talked about the roles of Türkiye, the US, and regional actors, and how we can cooperate to address these issues.”
He said Turkish-US priorities in Syria include stability, combating terrorism, and putting an end to the dominance of the terrorist groups Daesh/ISIS and PKK.
Fidan underlined that he and Blinken discussed what could be done to address Syria's stability, their common concerns, and possible solutions.
The Turkish foreign minister said he and the US secretary of state agreed that a cease-fire in Gaza should be established as soon as possible.
He noted ongoing efforts by Türkiye, the US, and other partners to secure a cease-fire, while condemning Israel's killing of civilians in the enclave, saying that the cycle of violence in the region persists. Israel’s ongoing 14-month war on Gaza has killed some 45,000 people.
The two officials also discussed bilateral issues, particularly concerning the defense industry, Fidan added. The two countries have been working out details of the Turkish acquisition of US fighter jets for some months.
Fidan, thanking Blinken for his visit and cooperation as secretary of state, said Friday’s meeting in Ankara may mark Blinken’s final visit in his current role, as President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, and is nominating Blinken’s successor.
“I wish him all the best for the future,” Fidan said of Blinken.
- ‘A better future for the Syrian people that they decide for themselves’
Blinken, for his part, expressed gratitude for Turkish President Erdogan's understanding and generosity in taking time to meet with him the previous evening.
On Syria’s future after the fall of Bashar Assad, Blinken remarked: "As the (foreign) minister said, we're very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us, and before the Syrian people, to move out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.”
“We talked about how Turkey and how the United States, how other partners in the region, can support those efforts, and I think there's broad agreement on what we would each like to see going forward.”
“We also discussed the imperative continuing the efforts to keep ISIS (Daesh) down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial ‘caliphate’ of ISIS (Daesh) to ensure that that threat doesn't rear its head again. And it's imperative that we keep at those efforts.”
Saying that he and Fidan discussed the Gaza issue, including the return of hostages to their homes and achieving a ceasefire, he added: “What we've seen in the last couple of weeks are more encouraging signs that is (thought) possible. And in my discussions with President Erdogan and with (Foreign) Minister Fidan, we talked about the imperative of Hamas saying ‘yes’ to the agreement that's possible, to finally help bring this to an end.
“And we appreciate very much the role that Turkey can play in using its voice with Hamas to try to bring this to conclusion.”
After meeting with Fidan, Blinken departed Ankara.
In recent years, Ankara and Washington's relations have been strained by US policy on Syria.
Türkiye opposes US support for the Syrian terrorist group YPG due to its affiliation with the PKK, which has waged a terror campaign against Türkiye for 40 years, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants, according to official figures.
While the US considers the YPG – also known by acronyms such as the SDF – a key partner in the fight against Daesh/ISIS in Syria, it does not recognize the YPG as a terrorist group, although it does acknowledge the PKK as such.
Turkish officials have long said that using one terrorist group to fight another makes no sense.