Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and US Secretary of State John Kerry Monday reaffirmed the close relationship between the two allies as they attempt to jointly navigate global challenges.
“Whether the challenge is Syria, or Iran, Middle East peace process, the future of our NATO alliance, or ensuring economic prosperity, the US and Turkey share strategic goals,” said Kerry.
He added, “I think there are only a few countries – you can count them on one or two hands – who work on as many issues together as effectively as we are working on them. And we are both stronger when we tackle these challenges and create opportunities together.”
Asked whether he thought Washington had sent mixed signals to Ankara during the Syrian crisis, Davutoglu replied, “Since there is a sincere dialogue, consultation, and – mixed or not-mixed signals, but there is no signals. Direct, sincere, friendly, if sometimes needed, very frank also consultation between us, because we are working not only for our nations, but for regional and global peace. And that will continue forever between Turkish presidents, leaders, as well as American, Turkish ministers of foreign affairs forever.”
And indeed, the two top diplomats addressed a number of pressing foreign policy objectives Monday.
-Syria
Both Kerry and Davutoglu stressed their joint commitment to ending the now over two and a half year Syrian conflict.
“As Turkey and the United States, we will do everything possible to end this bloodshed, to help victims of this crisis in Syria, and to make a diplomacy possible in Geneva II,” said Davutoglu.
Davutoglu and Kerry praised the Syrian opposition’s decision to participate in the upcoming talks.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based rights group, the conflict has claimed over 120,000 lives.
And indeed, the gravity of the unfolding situation in Syria was not lost on Davutoglu.
“And there are two threats now to Turkish national security: one is Syrian regime itself because of the policies; the second is those extremist groups which are misusing and exploiting this power vacuum for their ill intentions. Therefore, it is important to end this crisis as early as possible,” he said.
Still, Davutoglu insisted that it is not Turkey’s sole responsibility to resolve the conflict, but the international community’s as well.
Regarding Turkey’s efforts to stem the humanitarian fallout from the crisis, Kerry said, “We commend Turkey’s remarkable generosity in hosting over 600,000 Syrian refugees now, as well as its vaccination program for one million children that they just announced today. And the United States is proud to have provided an additional 96 million in assistance to refugees to Turkey.”
The US has given $1.3 billion in aid, according to Kerry.
-Iran
“We don’t want any state obtaining nuclear weapon. But at the same time, we are in favor of peaceful access of nuclear technology. So based on these two principles, we will always support P5+1 Iran negotiations,” remarked Davutoglu.
The P5+1 and Iran are set for the next round of talks later this week on Nomber 20 in Geneva.
Kerry said that the US would work to craft a first phase agreement during the negotiations.
“We will negotiate in good faith and we will try to get a first-step agreement and hope that Iran will understand the importance of coming there prepared to create a document that can prove to the world that this is a peaceful program,” he said.
-Kurdish issue
Kerry lauded Turkish efforts to resolve the long-standing Kurdish issue, saying, “The United States is particularly encouraged by the historic Kurdish peace process – we hope agreement – the Turkish process and the recent announcement by Turkey of several domestic reforms. Implementing these changes will spur greater openness and greater freedom in Turkish society, which the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister completely embrace, and which we encourage them and commit to working with them in order to try to promote going forward.”
englishnews@aa.com.tr
