Turkey, US had ‘productive’ talks on Syria: US official

By Ahmet Salih Alacaci

ANKARA

Following a meeting between Turkish and U.S. delegations, Washington’s National Security Council spokesman said the two sides had a “productive discussion.”

Garret Marquis told journalists that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw roughly 2,000 military personnel “at a proper pace” from northeast Syria was a major talking point for the delegations led by Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Marquis said that the “strong bilateral relationship” between the two countries was emphasized during the meeting.

“The U.S. looks forward to ongoing military-to-military consultations today on our cooperation in Syria,” he said.

The talks between senior military, intelligence and diplomatic officials on both sides took place at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Tuesday, lasting around two hours.

Bolton departed from the Turkish capital later on Tuesday, while other major figures -- including U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey are still in Ankara.

In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump last month announced the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.

Trump made the decision during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which the two leaders agreed on the need for more effective coordination over the civil war-torn country.